RAHIM YAR KHAN, Nov 27: Local body officials violated a code of conduct by the Election Commission of Pakistan for the Jan 8 elections on Tuesday as they attended a press conference by the Pakistan Muslim League candidates.

Four district and tehsil nazims from the district attended the press conference to criticise one of their old fellows who recently joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

District Nazim Rafiq Haider Leghari, District Naib Nazim Hussnain Zafar Warraich, Rahim Yar Khan Tehsil Nazim Mian Ijaz Amir and Sadiqabad Tehsil Nazim Dr Taloot Bajwa attended the press conference held by PML candidates Zafar Warraich and Rais Munir Ahmed. These leaders criticised Mian Imtiaz Ahmed, brother of the Rahim Yar Khan tehsil nazim, for joining the PPP. The PMLQ leaders said Imtiaz had joined the PPP when the PMLQ ticket for NA-196 was awarded to Mr Warraich.

They said even though Imtiaz had defected to the PPP, his brothers — Haji Ibrahim and Ijaz — were still in the PMLQ.

Ibrahim said Imtiaz had been trapped by PPP leaders but their Arain Bradri was united under the leadership of Chaudhry Munir, adviser to the UAE government. Some political analysts say Imtiaz changed loyalties with the consent of his brothers and they want to have say in the PPP in case the PML loses the elections.