TOBA TEK SINGH: Local PML-N leaders claim that the differences over the district council chairman and vice chairmen slots’ nominations have been resolved as one of the panels has withdrawn the candidatures.

In a surprise move, party’s ticket-holders ex-MPA Sardar Masood Gadhi (chairman) and Shahid Iqbal Gujjar and Mian Muhammad Ihsan (vice chairmen) have announced withdrawal of their candidatures in favour of Fauzia Warraich (chairperson) and Irfan Azam Sipra and Pir Syed Akhtar Abbas Kirmani (vice chairmen). The latter named panel of candidates had earlier announced that they would contest as independent candidates against the party’s ticket-holders.

Sources said a three-member committee headed by Saud Majeed, a senator from Bahawalpur, came here on Sunday on the direction of the chief minister and helped resolve the differences. On the recommendation of the committee, the chief minister called the two groups to Lahore on Tuesday and brokered reconciliation.

Fauzia Warraich is the wife of Khalid Javed Warraich, an MNA from Gojra, and her panel is also backed by Kamalia MNA Asadur Rehman, Pirmahal MPA Pir Ali Baba and Gojra MPA Malik Abdul Qadeer Awan.

PTI candidate Saeed Ahmad Saeedi’s panel has already withdrawn candidatures in favour of Fauzia Warraich’s group.

MNA Asadur Rehman told Dawn that the two groups had agreed to reconcile in the best interest of the party.

Masood Gadhi is the brother of MPA from Rajana retired Col Sardar Ayub Gadhi and the panel enjoys support of MNA Junaid Anwar, MPAs Begum Nazia Raheel Gujjar, Amjad Ali Javed and Mian Muhammad Rafiq.

Former MNA Riaz Fatyana, who has recently formed his own party Awam League, and National Muslim League head Amjad Ali Warraich are also supporting the panel.

Published in Dawn December 21st, 2016