HYDERABAD, Aug 30: The PML-backed Azad Magsi Ittehad (AMI) has announced the names of its candidates for the district and taluka nazims of the newly-created Tando Allahyar district here on Tuesday as the AMI had grabbed 153 seats of councillors nazims/naib nazims out of 247 of the district.

Addressing a press conference at the residence of Haji Ghulam Hussain Khokhar in civil lines, PML-F MPA Dr Irfan Gul Magsi, said that his sister Dr Raheela Magsi had been nominated as candidate for the top slot of district nazim of Tando Allahyar as AMI grabbed 153 seats of councillors in 19 UCs of the district adding that AMI-supported pairs of nazim/naib nazim had won in 16 out of 19 UCs. Dr.Raheela Magsi, Haji Ghulam Hussain Khokhar, Fayyaz Sheikh, Raheel’s husband, Dr Zulfikar Yousfani were also present on the occasion. The AMI had decided to share district naib nazim or Tando Allahyar taluka naib nazim seat with its ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement-backed Haq Parast Group (HPG) which had won seats of UC nazim/naib nazim and councillors UCs in the district.

Dr Irfan, who was an elected MPA from Tando Allahyar district and has recently joined PML-F, said that 125 seats are required for winning the slot of the district nazim and added that some independent councillors were also joining AMI in the district.

He further said that Haji Ghulam Hussain Khokhar and Fayyaz Sheikh had been nominated as candidates for taluka nazim Tando Allahyar and Chambar taluka respectively whereas decision for Jhando Mari-at-Pyaro Lund was pending.

He said Shahzad Yousfani was likely to be nominated as taluka naib nazim of Tando Allahyar.

About development works of the district, he said that Tando Allahyar, formerly a taluka of undivided Hyderabad, used to get Rs45 million to Rs50 million but now it would be given around Rs80 million adding that the chief minister had announced a grant of Rs50 million. He further said that funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank was in pipe line .

He brushed aside reports that rigging had taken place in the district and claimed that rigging was committed where AMI had lost their UCs.

He maintained that Tando Allahyar was governed by one party in the past which did not serve the people. He said that it was a deluge of people which had supported AMI as a commitment had been made to people that their rights would be protected and they would be served in a better way.

Dr.Rahila Magsi vowed to develop the area in collaboration with the members of her team in the district government to be formed shortly. She said opponents would also be given funds.