FAISALABAD, Aug 26: None of the groups of the ruling PML could attain clear majority in Jhang, according to information collected from different polling stations. Results of 84 of 122 union councils of the district indicate that all the major groups which fielded panels for the top slot of the district Nazim and four tehsils — Jhang, Shorkot, Chiniot and Ahmadpur Sial — will have to win over support of the other group.

In Chiniot tehsil, out of 44 UC seats, the result of 36 seats showed that candidates jointly fielded by PPP MPA Qazi Ali Hasan and other leaders bagged nine seats, while seven each were shared by Syeda Abida Husain group and ruling party MNA Syed Tahir Shah group, besides Chiniot group, the PML, Rehmatullah group shared three seats each, Lali group got two seats while one each was won by independent and the MMA.

In Jhang tehsil out of 49 UC seats, results of 25 seats showed that seven panels of Sheikh Yaqoob group, four of Sahibzada group, three independent, two each of Syed Abdia Husain and Sheikh Ikram group and one each panel of MMA, PML-N, Hafiz Abdul Jabbar of Zaka group and Ghulam Nabi Bharwana won the seats.

In Shorkot tehsil out of 24 UC, results of 15 showed that Akhtar Abbas group claimed seven seats followed by six by Sahibzada, one each by Qamir Kathia and the MMA.

Result of eight union councils out of total 14 of Ahmadpur Sial tehsil indicated that four each seats were shared by MPA Najaf group and Sahibzada group.

Former federal minister Abida Husain, Minister for Kashmir and Northern Areas Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, former minister Sahibzada Nazir Sultan and Jhang district council former chairman Akhtar Abbas group are desperately trying to grab the top slot of the district and tehsil nazims.

However, the chief minister had already announced the Jhang district former nazim Hameed Sultan as a ruling party candidate who is being supported by Sahibzada Nazir Sultan. — Shamsul Islam Naz