July 27, 2007	Friday	Rajab 11, 1428

MUZAFFARGARH, July 26: The Punjab chief minister has failed to prevail upon PML leaders from Muzaffargarh to field a consensus candidate against the district nazim. Sources said a meeting of the chief minister with MPAs and MNAs of Muzaffargarh district (held in Lahore on Thursday) could not agree to a candidate against Qayyum Jatoi, a PPP-backed nazim.

In the July 19 budget session of the district council, the PML showed 86 members in its camp and decided to bring a no-confidence move against Jatoi in the first week of August.

First of the chief minister met MNA Khizar Gopang, Syed Abdullah Shah Bukhari and MPA Allah Wasaya Leghari.

The chief minister confirmed them that they will get tickets from their areas in next polls. But MPA Yasser Arfat Jatoi was denied ticket.

Then the chief minister met with Nawab Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, Muzaffargarh tehsil nazim Sardar Abad Dogar and MPA Qaswar Langrial. Sources said the chief minister confirmed the candidature of Nawab Iftikhar from the constituency of MNA Jamil Qureshi. Sources said Abad Dogar had opposed the inclusion of Nawab Iftikhar in the PML. Talking to Dawn, Nawab Iftikhar confirmed that he had been assured of his candidacy.

The chief minister also arranged reconciliation between Malik Rabbani Khar and MPA Tariq Gurmani. He also asked former MPA Sultan Hinjra and former MNA Abbas Qureshi to bury hatchet, which they did.

Sources said the chief minister gave 10 days to MPAs and MNAs to agree on a consensus candidate against the district nazim.