GUJRAT, Aug 10: Mandi Bahauddin Tehsil Nazim Chaudhry Shahzad Anjum Pervez who tendered his resignation along with District Nazim and 34 Nazims of different union councils on Saturday has joined the PML-Q to “retain his office.”

Sources close to the Tehsil Nazim told Dawn that Shahzad Anjum Pervez had decided to quit the PPP to join the ruling party after he was approached by MPA Chaudhry Riaz Asghar, a close relative of the Chaudhrys.

Sources said Riaz Asghar met Shahzad at the latter’s residence on Saturday evening where a few loyal politicians of both the leaders were also present.

They quoted Riaz Asghar as telling his host that “higher authorities” would not accept his resignation if he joined the PML-Q and this offer was valid for other Nazims also who had tendered resignations along with the District Nazim to protest police baton charge and Punjab government meddling in the district affairs. They quoted him as saying that the offer was not valid for District Nazim Mohammad Nazar Gondal whose resignation would definitely be accepted by the higher authorities.

Following an assurance by Riaz Asghar that his resignation would not be accepted and that he would remain the Tehsil Nazim, Shahzad Anjum Pervez agreed to join the PML-Q.

Riaz Asghar reportedly contacted different UC Nazims on Saturday night and Sunday to offer them the same ‘package’. Sources said only two Nazims had accepted his offer whereas eight sought some time while the rest stood with the District Nazim.

Sources claimed that District Naib Nazim Imtiaz Chaudhry had also contacted some of the UC Nazims to win their support over the issue and gave them the same offer.

Sources in the PML-Q told this correspondent on the condition of anonymity that the party high command would request Gen Musharraf to accept the resignation of only those politicians who had shifted their loyalty.

This correspondent visited the residence of District Nazim Nazar Gondal in Gojra (some 100 km from here) on Sunday but he was out of the district.

His younger brother, PPP MNA Major Zulfiqar Gondal (retired), however gave details of the mass resignations.

He said DN Nazar Gondal had informed Malikwal DSP Naseeb Anwar on Aug6 that he would sit in the office of the DDO (revenue) on Aug 7 when the PML-Q would table a no-confidence motion against Tehsil Nazim Nadeem Afzal Chan. He had also informed the DCO and the DPO about this programme, he said. But, he alleged, that the police force led by Malikwal SHO Mian Niaz and Gojra SHO Nasrullah Warriach did not allow the DN, Zulfikar himself, and a PPP MPA to sit in the office of the DDO. “Rather, they kept us outside the gate of the premises of the district council.”

He further alleged that SHO Nasrullah Warriach had pushed the DN when the later tried to enter the premises. He quoted Nasrullah Warriach as saying to them that the higher authorities had instructed them not to allow the DN enter the DDO office.

He accused the Malikwal DSP of hurling abuses on them before ordering baton charge. “The police, however, allowed MPA Riaz Asghar to enter the main gate.”

The MNA said his nephew Shafqat Mahmood and his brother’s driver Nawaz had received injuries but neither doctors issued medico-legal certificate nor police registered the case. “The Malikwal police rather registered a case against the DN and 75 PPP workers.”

He alleged that some PML-Q politicians with the help of the DPO and police had kidnapped about 15 Naib Nazims of Malikwal tehsil council who were kept in illegal detention for many days only to oust the Tehsil Nazim and his deputy.

He said the DPO had told the ‘detainees’ to vote against the Tehsil Nazim or face consequences.

He alleged that the Chaudhrys of Gujrat who believed in politics of victimization wanted to oust the Malikwal Tehsil Nazim and the Mandi District Nazim because they had defeated Riaz Asghar Warriach who was a nominee for the district Nazim slot.

He alleged that the Chaudhrys were pressing them to quit the PPP and join the PML-Q.

Answering a question, he said that it was not yet clear whether Gen Musharraf had accepted the resignations.

To another question, he said Mandi Tehsil Nazim Shahzad Anjum Pervez had not joined the PML-Q.