MUZAFFARGARH: Political heavy weights of the district have become active in local politics in view of the next local government elections and started contacting the voters and influential groups to win there support in this regard.

According to sources, former governor of Punjab, Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar, has decided to pitch his son Malik Abdul Rehman in the local elections and he was busy in contacting voters and his allies in this regard.

Mr Khar had contested the last general election on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ticket, but he was defeated by an independent candidate, Dr Shabbir Qureshi, with a big margin.

With regard to the next local government election, the sources says that though he was waiting for the party decision, he planned to field his son Abdul Rehman as a candidate for Kot Addu tehsil chairman slot.

On the other hand, former ticket holder from NA-182, Malik Rafique Khar, also eyes the same slot for his son Malik Ali Raza Khar. He claimed that he had already “finalised” discussions with the PTI leadership for his son’s candidature for Kot Addu tehsil chairmanship.

Similarly, Awami Raj Party Chairman and ex-MNA, Jamshed Dasti, said that he would contest the LG election at district level and had launched his “campaign”by attending social gatherings. He said the PTI government had failed to provide relief to the masses and everybody was worried about meeting both ends meet. He said there was no check no corruption in police stations. He added that high prices of petroleum products had added to the financial burden on the poor.

Federal minister Dr Shabbir Qureshi said that the decisions regarding the PTI candidates for the local polls in the district would be taken by party leadership.

As per observers of local politics, the Hinjras would be playing a key role in the contest for Kot Addu tehsil chairman’s slot. Sultan Mahmood Hinjra, who is a seasoned politician of the area and had been an MPA and an MNA many times, along his nephew -- ex-provincial minister Malik Ahmad Yar Hinjra, could be a strong camp in local politcs.

Malik Naseer Hinjra said his uncle Sultan Mahmood had a huge experience of district council politics and had been district chairman in the tenure of the PML-Q.

Sardar Abdul Rauf Chandia, a main supporter of Hinjras, said they had started their campaign for local elections by contacting different political groups.

Alamdar Qureshi, a former MPA and member of Punjab chief minister’s task force on pesticides, said he would also be a candidate for Kot Addu chairman’s slot, hoping that the PTI leadership would soon announce his candidature.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2019