ATTOCK, Oct 1: Malik Khurram Ali Khan, Awam Dost candidate for the slot of Pindigheb tehsil nazim, has said the PML had been monopolized by one family which was bent upon getting their kith and kin and other blue-eyed political figures elected to the slots of district and tehsil nazims in Punjab.

He said this while talking to Dawn in an interview at his residence in Pindigheb.

Mr Khan said he had joined the PML after winning the slot of tehsil nazim in local bodies elections 2001 to serve the masses and resolve their problems. But, unfortunately after completion of the first tenure of the local government system, political figures, enjoying the support of this family, were being benefited while other loyal party leaders were being ignored.

He said the issue of Lt-Gen (retired) Majeed Malik was ample example of such favouritism. He is being victimized under one pretext or the other for raising voice against the biased nomination policy, he added.

Commenting on the indifferent attitude of the district government, Mr Khan said the Attock district government had provided only Rs1.5 million to the tehsil for development purposes during his four-year term while sufficient funds were provided to other tehsils.

He regretted that due to financial constraints, mostly tehsil health institutions like basic health units (BHUs) and rural health centres (RHCs) were working without proper staff and lacked medicines and other facilities. Same was the case with education sector.

Despite all such hindrances and limited financial resources, Mr Khan utilized all his efforts for the uplift of various sectors, particularly the neglected education and health sectors of the tehsil.

Explaining the reasons behind the rift with former Attock district nazim Maj (retired) Tahir Sadiq, Mr Khan said he had always extended political support to Tahir Sadiq during the last tenure. But he did not respond to him in the same manner.

He said he filed his nomination papers for the slot of tehsil nazim with the consent of Tahir Sadiq and informed him about it. But, later, Tahir Sadiq nominated his uncle Malik Liaquat Khan, brother of provincial minister Col (retired) Malik Mohammad Anwar, for the same slot.

Therefore, he joined hands with Awam Dost group of PAC Chairman Malik Allahyar Khan who nominated him for the tehsil nazim seat.

He claimed that he had the support of 50 per cent nazims and councillors from a total of 13 union councils of Pindigheb tehsil.

He said after wining the elections he would focus on the uplift of the neglected sectors like education and health and ensure provision of justice at police station level.

On a question about the possibility of joining hands with Khattar group after winning elections, Mr Khan said currently he was focussing on his election campaign only.