CHITRAL, August 22: Formation of the Chitral Muttahida Group here by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and the Pakistan Muslim League is being consider by political analysts as a development which will be of immence help to former district nazim Shahzada Mohyuddin in the local government elections.

The Awam Dost Group backed by the People’s Party Parliamentarians and the Chitral Muttahida Group have fielded candidates in all the 24 union councils in the district. Al Khidmat Group, supported by the Jamaat-i-Islami, is in the run in 16 union councils where Sunnis are in majority.

Two members of the provincial assembly from the district belong to the JUI and Mr Mohyuddin of the PML is considered to be a favourite of President Gen Pervez Musharraf. Leader of their group are announcing development schemes in the area because of their position.

The group has fielded candidates of the JUI in six union councils and the PML in 18. Mr Mohyuddin is aspiring to retain the post of district nazim.

Political analysts expect the CMG to sweep the polls in Drosh, Ashrait, Arkari valley, Oveer valley, Yarkhoon and Torkhow.

The JUI is likely to get the Chitral Tehsil nazim’s post.

The Awam Dost Group has its strongholds in Charun, Sheshi Koh, Kosht, Yarkhoon, Khot, Garum Chashma and Mastuj.

In the last elections, the Awam Dost Group had the highest number of union council nazims and councillors but its candidate for district nazim lost to Mr Mohyuddin by four votes. But the PPP is facing an internal rift over local party posts.

Leaders of the PPP and the Jamaat-i-Islami have reportedly agreed to enter into an alliance for elections of tehsil and district nazims. Al Khidmat Group has fielded more than 200 candidates for councillors in the district. MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali was the chairman of the group’s lection cell. In the last elections, Al Khidmat Group had won a post of tehsil nazim with the support of the Awam Dost Group.