VEHARI, Aug 24: Though the local government system was introduced with the claims of infusing new blood in the grassroots politics, most of the union council nazim and naib nazim elected for the first time in the district happen to be relatives of influential politicians and figures.

Reports say ARD leader and PML-N MNA Begum Tehmina Daultana’s husband Tariq Anwar Wahla, her brother Zahid Daultana and nephew Mohammad Azeem Daultana have been elected nazims, while Naeem Ahmed Khichi, who is elected naib-nazim from UC 27, is younger brother of PML-N leader Dr Naseem Khichi.

Similarly, Tauseef Ahmed Yousafzai, who is elected nazim from UC 28 is a cousin of MNA Azher Yousafzai, while in UC 30 naib-nazim Wajid Nawaz is son of former MPA Mehfooz Nawaz and brother of MPA Majid Nawaz.

UC 31 nazim Iftikhar Khakwani is nephew of railway state minister Ishaq Khakwani, while in UC 32 Afzal Khichi, a cousin of former district nazim Mumtaz Khichi, has been elected nazim. In UC 36, newly-elected nazim Mohammad Azam Khichi is son of former district nazim Mumtaz Khichi. Similarly, UC 38 nazim Noor Ahmed Yousafzai is cousin of MNA Azher Yousafzai.

Same is the case in UC 39, where new nazim Mian Wajahat is uncle of former Mailsi tehsil nazim Mian Naeem Arain, while UC 41 nazim Abdul Qadir Khichi is cousin of former district nazim Mumtaz Khichi, UC 42 nazim Mohammad Javed Khichi is brother of Khanewal DCO Mohammad Khan Khichi.

In UC 43, new nazim Yasir Mushtaq Bhaba is nephew of PPP district president Noor Khan Bhaba, UC 46 naib-nazim Malik Afzal is cousin of Punjab Assembly Speaker Afzal Sahi, UC 53 nazim Ahmed Yar Manais is brother-in-law of former Punjab assembly speaker Saeed Ahmed Manais.