FAISALABAD, Aug 29: Both the ruling and opposition PMLs are experiencing internal strife over the nomination of candidates for the top slots of eight towns and the city district.

Ruling PML district chief MNA Asim Nazir has formally been nominated by Punjab chief minister for the city district nazim slot. However, Mr Nazir is facing opposition from former district naib-nazim Raza Nasarullah Ghuman, who has launched a parallel campaign for the slot. Mr Ghuman is reportedly being backed by Chaudhries of Gujrat for being a Jat by cast.

Ruling PML-backed Chaudhry Muneer Ahmed, who is cousin of Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar, has been nominated for Jaranwala town nazim slot, but he is facing opposition from former Jaranwala tehsil nazim Rana Abdul Rehman, who had joined the PML after winning his seat.

In Samundri Town, a young newcomer Shah Nawaz has been nominated by the PML for nazim slot, but he is being opposed by former tehsil nazim Mazhar Ali Gill, who is father of a sitting MPA Arif Gill and has a huge vote bank.

For Jinnah Town’s nazim slot, PML-nominated Raja Adnan Tariq is son of Lt-Gen Tariq Pervaiz (retired) and nephew of PML-N MNA Raja Nadir Pervaiz. Senior PML leader Iqbal Kastro, father-in-law of provincial minister Dr Shafique and former tehsil naib-nazim Ilyas Ansari are opposing the nomination.

In Lyallpur Town, another youngster, Rana Zahid Mehmood, has been fielded by the PML for nazim slot, who is struggling to get the support of newly-elected councillors and UC nazims.

Sajjad Haider Cheema, son of former tehsil nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema, has been nominated for the Iqbal Town nazim slot. He is being backed by his uncle federal textile minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema and other PML leaders.

Former MNA Mian Amjad Yaseen has been nominated for the Madina Town’s nazim slot. His wife Rifaat Amjad is a federal parliamentary secretary and the family enjoys a considerable influence among the area people.

On the other hand, PML-N has also been facing serious problems and so far could not nominate any candidates in the four towns. Former MNA Chaudhry Sher Ali, his son MNA Abid Sher Ali, PML-N city president former MPA Khwaja Muhammad Islam, former MPA Zeeshan Shah and other leaders are interviewing the prospective candidates and giving final touches to the nominations.

Political circles are of the view that Mr Sher Ali is a strong candidate for the district’s top slot because of his influence both in the rural as well as urban areas of the district.

However, another group of the PML-N parliamentarians and office-bearers, comprising MNA Raja Nadir Pervaiz, MPAs Rana Sanaullah Khan, Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed and Malik Muhammad Nawaz, is opposing the Sher Ali group due to which the party could face a serious set back in the local polls.

Meanwhile, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal backed Al-Khidmat group has finalized its candidates for the city district and town nazim slots. From MMA side, Sardar Zafar Hussain has been nominated for district nazim slot, while Naveed Iqbal Randhawa and Rai Akram Kharal have been fielded for nazim slots in Chak Jhumra and Jaranwala towns, respectively. Mian Ghulam Sarwar has been nominated for Samundri town nazim slot, while for Tandlianwala, Pir Karimullah Chishti has been fielded by the MMA.

The religious parties’ alliance has nominated Amjad Hussain Amjad, for Iqbal Town; Azeem Randhawa for Lyallpur Town, Mehboobuz Zaman But for Madina Town and Malik Muhammad Din for Jinnah Town.

The Pakistan People’s Party-backed Awam Dost Group has also so far failed to nominate candidates for the towns and city district top slots and was mulling the issue.