December 17, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 6, 1428

SIALKOT, Dec 16: Ch Khush Akhtar Subhani, a former provincial minister and a scion of Variyo family, on Saturday withdrew his nomination papers from NA-111 and retired in favour of PML-Q’s candidate and National Assembly speaker Ch Amir Hussain, ending a month-long confusion among party workers in general and Gujjar clansmen in particular.

Variyos were disgruntled over PML-Q’s ticket distribution and on the one hand its elders fielded their scion, Subhani, against Amir Hussain from NA-111, Bajwat, and on the other hand Ch Abdul Sattar Variyo himself filed his nomination papers from NA-113, Daska, and NA-114, Pasrur, even though the PML-Q had given him a ticket for NA-114 alone. Sattar Variyo desired contesting for NA-113 instead of NA-114 and their move had created a chaotic situation.

Amir Hussain was given walkover after a deal was struck between the Variyo family’s head and Subhani’s father, Ch Akhtar Ali, and the NA speaker. Now the Variyo family would support Amir Hussain and in return he would support the Variyo family’s candidates, Sattar Variyo from NA-114, Subhani from PP-125, Sialkot, and Armughan Subhani from PP-127, Pasrur.

Both Akhtar and Amir are now trying to reunite the rifted Gujjar Biradari in the district and the deal will apparently give a healing touch to the ‘ruptured’ clan.

Though Sattar Variyo is focusing his electioneering for NA-114, he has not yet withdrawn his nomination papers from NA-113, where he is contesting the elections as independent candidate and “wall clock” symbol has been allotted to him.