DERA GHAZI KHAN, Sept 6: The Punjab government is allegedly pressurizing a candidate for the post of Nazim of Taunsa Sharif tehsil, Nawaz Shah, to make him withdraw from the contest in favour of a nominee of the chief minister.

A candidate for the post of Naib Nazim, Yousaf Mughal, alleged in an application to the returning officer concerned that Mr Shah was being detained at some unknown place.

Sources said Mr Shah was called for negotiations in Lahore a few days ago. He has not been seen in Dera since then. His absence is affecting his election campaign with his supporters accusing the government of detaining him at some unknown place.

Difference of opinion among legislators of the PML-Q from Taunsa Sharif made the chief minister select Saeed Ullah Nasua, district council member of the Millat Party and a small industrialist of the area, for the top slot of Taunsa Sharif.

District Nazim Jamal Khan Leghari had expressed his surprise over the nomination of Mr Nasua for the slot and said that it would take time to forge a consensus on the nomination.

Later on, the local chapter of Millat Party split over the nomination with its district council members from Taunsa Sharif fielding their own panel Pir Nawaz Shah-Yousaf Mughal against Mr Nasua-Mubashar Buzdar.

A majority of the members of 13 union councils of the tehsil and the PPP, Jamaat-i-Islami and the PML-N have extended their support to Mr Shah. The district Nazim is said to have succeeded in securing the support of district council member Akram Khan Malghani by getting him appointed in the CBR.

The district PPP president has also accused the government of influencing the election by keeping the rival candidate away from the campaign.

According to a source in Taunsa Sharif, Pir Shah had contacted him on phone from some unknown place and told him that he was being pressurized to withdraw from the contest.

The supporters of Nawaz Shah group are arranging a protest rally on Sunday, which will also include representatives of the PLM-N, the PPP and the JI.

The election will be held on Sept 8.