TOBA TEK SINGH: The differences that developed within the ruling PML-N in Gojra seem to have subsided for now as the group led by MPA Malik Abdul Qadeer Awan and supported by the municipal corporation (MC) chairman has managed to gather the support of most of the opposition councillors in the house and overshadowed rival group led by PML-N MNA Chaudhry Khalid Javed Warraich.

In the local council elections held in November 2015, the PML-N had won 30 councillor seats in the 46-member house. Though some differences were observed at the time of the election of municipal committee chairman in 2016, but both groups had reconciled and the party’s unanimous candidate, Mian Muhammad Islam, was elected on the top slot.

For the first six months of the year, the house functioned smoothly. In the meanwhile, a councillor belonging to the opposition Pakistan National Muslim League (PNML), Afzal Jagga, died and the strength of the house was reduced to 45.

Three months ago, the PML-N developed differences among its ranks and was divided into two groups; 18 of the party’s councillors supported the MNA’s group, while the MPA or chairman had the support of 12. The differences emerged when the MNA’s group attempted to exert its authority over affairs of the house.

Infighting within the party had created chaos during three sessions of the house held over the last few months, as the MNA’s group opposed the chairman’s proposals for development schemes.

The chairman then managed to strike a deal with PNML and got the support of its seven councillors, while PNML chief and former MNA Chaudhry Amjad Ali Warraich -- the brother of MPA Khalid – also attended the house session to show his support for the chairman.

On Monday, he announced to participate in development and that his party will plant 100,000 saplings in the city for a clean environment.

Similarly, three independent councillors in the house also announced their support for the chairman’s group. Leader of the independent group, Mian Islam Abid -- also district PPP general secretary, told this correspondent that they had decided to support the chairman’s group in the interest of the development of the city.

After the support of PNML and independent groups, the chairman now enjoyed the support of 22 councillors. Leader of PTI’s five councillors, Chaudhry Tariq Naeem, said his party would support any good work of the chairman and oppose if he did something wrong.

Now that the chairman had been strengthened, in a recently held session all development schemes proposed by his group had been easily passed by the house with majority votes.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2017