RAWALPINDI, Oct 5: An independent candidate standing for the Rawal Town nazim slot, Zaheer Qadri, on Wednesday asked the Opposition parties to vote for him to reduce chances for government-supported candidate Sheikh Rashid Shafique.

“If the opposition parties including Awam Dost of Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamhooriat Nawaz of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Al-Khidmat of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal wanted to defeat the ruling party candidate they should support me”, he said warning that “disunity in the ranks of the opposition” has brightened the chances of the ruling PML candidate.

Those in the run for the Rawal Town nazim are Sheikh Rashid Shafique, the nephew of Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Mian Khurram Rasool who is backed by the PPP, Sardar Naseem who has the support of PML(N) and Zaheer Qadri who is contesting as an independent candidate.

Mr Zaheer promised to properly represent the opposition if the latter voted for him.