RAWALPINDI, Dec 27: Five of the seven candidates backed by Pakistan Muslim League (PML) have been elected unopposed as tehsil naib nazims, while a tough competition is expected for the slots of two tehsil and city district naib nazim here on Wednesday. Chaudhry Muhammad Farooq, Tariq Mehmood, Muhammad Nawaz, Haji Abdus Salam and Ibrar Rashid have been declared successful in Potohar Town, Taxila, Kalar Syedan, Kotli Sattian and Gujar Khan tehsils respectively, as none of the three main opposition parties - Pakistan Muslim League, People’s Party Parliamentarians and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) - fielded their candidates.

However, a tough contest would take place in Rawal Town where seven opposition candidates are pitched against the government- backed candidate, Farooq Azam, for the slot of town naib nazim, as PPP, PML-N and Jamaat-i-Islami have failed to field a joint candidate.

The electoral college for the Rawal Town Council consists of 65 councillors and according to Town Nazim Sh Rashid Shafique, Farooq Azam enjoyed the support of 41 members. However, on the other side PPP’s candidate for the slot of naib nazim, Sohail Pasha, was of the view that he would lead the contest, as he was backed by three covering candidates.

Nasir Mir, Asad Mughal, Sohail Pasha, Rao Ikram, Sardar Raza, Farooq Azam, Raja Shabbir and Shabir Abbasi all are contesting election for the slot of naib nazim Rawal Town.

For the seat of district naib nazim, a one to one competition would take place between the ARD-backed candidate Ziaullah Shah and the government-backed candidate Afzal Khokhar.

In Murree tehsil, the opposition candidates are expected to give a tough time to the PML-backed candidate Sardar Salim.