February 20, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 12, 1429

BAHAWALPUR, Feb 19: The only causalty of the 2008 elections in the district is the Cheema group, led by District Nazim Tariq Bashir Cheema, which has been routed by rivals.

The Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-N took eight years to win any seat here.

The PML-N captured Yazman tehsil, considered to be a stronghold of Mr Cheema, as both National Assembly and two Provincial Assembly seats of his tehsil were won by the PML-N candidates. Saood Majid defeated PML-Q Punjab President Pervaiz Elahi and also won PP-276 seat. PML-N District President Mumtaz Ahmed Jajja stood winner from PP-275 defeating PML-Q’s Mehboob Nasir Chaudhry.

The PML-N emerged the largest party in the district as of 15 seats in the district, it won six seats, including two NA and four PA seats followed by the PPP’s two seats one each of NA and PA.

The only NA seat PML-Q could get was of Riaz Hussain Peerzada in Hasilpur. Mr Peerzada stood winner despite opposition by the Cheema group. The PML-Q bagged one PA seat of Makhdoom Iftikhar Gilani in Uch Sharif.

In NA-183, PPP’s Arif Aziz Sheikh defeated Cheema group’s Makhdoom Sami Gilani (PML-Q). PPP’s Shah Rukh Malik was elected MPA from PP-270 after defeating PML-Q’s Mian Saifullah Owaisi. Mian Najeeb Owaisi (PML-Q) tasted defeat in NA-184 from independent candidate Sardar Amir Yar Warren.

PML-N’s Baleeghur Rehman (NA-185), Zulfiqar Ali (PP-271) and Malik Iqbal Channar (PP-272) routed Cheema’s group.

To the disappointment of the nazim group, PML-Q District President Syed Irfan Gardezi lost PP-273 seat to Riaz Peerzada’s relative Kazim Peerzada (independent) and Khalil Bajwa (PP-274) gave way to independent candidate Safdar Gill.

The other two independent MPAs elected are: Malik Jahanzeb Warren (PP-269) and Muhammad Gazin Abbasi (PP-268). Abbasi defeated Rafatur Rehman and Warren defeated Khalid Yar Warren (PML-Q).

Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi, who formed his own group comprising candidates from PPP and PML-N suffered a setback as his man for NA-185, Farooq Azam Malik, and Safdar Shehbaz (PP-271) were defeated by PML-N’s Baleegh and Zulfiqar Ali. However, Arif Sheikh (PPP) and Iqbal Channar (PML-N) won from NA-183 and PP-272. Also, Hassan Askari Sheikh, PPP man for PP-267, claimed officials managed to defeat him by 100 votes through flawed counting. He said hat he will consult his counsels for legal actions.