MUZAFFARGARH: Candidates for the slot of district nazim were called to Lahore for interview with personal secretaries of MNA Hamza Shahbaz on Saturday.

MPA Alamdar Qureshi said his group led by MNA Ashiq Gopang presented the names of Mian Ghazanfar Abbas, Sardar Aon Dogar and Makhdoom Raza Bukhari for the district nazim slot, but if party leaders decided on someone else he will support the decision.

Malik Qasim Hanjra, a nephew of MNA Sultan Hanjra, was also in the race for district nazim and claimed he had more than 40 union council chairmen. He said his candidature was based on merit and he should be awarded the seat.

Former MPA Makhdoom Abdullah Shah Bukhari, the father of provincial minister Haroon Sultan Bukhari, had submitted his name for the position.

MPA Malik Qaswar Abbas Langrial said this time the district nazim should belong to Muzaffargarh tehsil, adding he said his brother Umer Khalid Langrial were fit for chairmanship of the district, however he filed nomination of his brother for the slot. He further said he would support the party decision even if his brother was not chosen.

This time every MNA and MPA is eyeing the district nazim seat. But most MPAs opposed candidates of Hanjra and Bukhari and wanted a new face from the tehsil who could defeat MNA Jamshed Dasti in the next general elections.

Meanwhile, an MPA disclosed some candidates had refused to appear for the interviews in Lahore, saying they will not appear before personal secretaries, Ataullah Tarar and Samiullah, of Hamza Shahbaz, but only be interviewed by either the chief minister or Hamza himself. He said party leaders were also looking at MNAs and MPAs as well as other members and finalise their decision soon.

Sources said if the party did not give the seat to Bukhari, he is likely to join the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. The party was in talks with PPP’s Sardar Abdul Qayyum Jatoi for joining the PML-N as a replacement for Bukhari.

Abdul Rauf Chandia, an activist, said the Hanjra brothers had finalised their talks with the Jatoi brothers but were still waiting to make a decision. He said Jatoi had vowed to support Qasim Hanjra. However, a secretary of Qayyum Jatoi denied the report.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2016