OKARA, Sept 12: Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal and former Punjab chief minister Mian Manzoor Watto on Monday nominated the former’s son, Rao Atif Sikander, as a joint candidate for the district nazim slot, rejecting the ruling PML nominee.

The two leaders also nominated Mr Wattoo’s son Mian Khurram Jehangir Wattoo for Deepalpur tehsil nazim. The decision regarding Okara and Renala Khurd tehsils is yet to be taken.

In a press conference at the city residence of the defence minister, they said Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had earlier declared Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Gillani as district nazim candidate and then Syed Asad Ali Shah Gillani, the nephew of Syed Afzal Gillani.

They said these decisions were against the ground realities and claimed that their group enjoyed clear majority in the district.

They also claimed support of other groups, including MNA Rai Muhammad Aslam Kharl, former district nazim Syed Sajjad Haider, ex-district council chairman Mian Ahmed Shuja Wattoo, former MNA Rao Qaiser Ali Khan, ex-MPAs Rai Noor Muhammad Kharl, Muhammad Arif and PML-N district president Mian Muhammad Zaman.

Mian Manzoor Wattoo said their joint candidates would ultimately strengthen President Gen Pervez Musharraf and the ruling PML.