DERA GHAZI KHAN, Sept 14: The nomination of Jamal Khan Leghari by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi for the top slot of the district has not pleased all, especially if his performance during the last four-year stint is something to be considered. He will now contest for the office for the second time.

The general public is of the view that Jamal Leghari could not perform his duties well as a district nazim during the last four years, as he mostly remained absent from the district council meetings and even from his office.

Shortfall in the annual budget, lapse of funds, incomplete welfare projects and corruption remained the main feature of the Leghari-led district administration, they allege.

During the last four years, the quality of drinking water declined to a level that it caused diseases among the people of Dera Ghazi Khan. His own tribesmen protested against him in Fort Munro because of unavailability of potable water.

According to police record, highway robberies and incidents of motorbike snatching increased manifold in the last four years compared to the previous years.

Mr Leghari also failed to develop harmonious relations with district coordination officers and district police officers, as three DCOs and as many DPOs were transferred during his tenure.

In the recently-held union council election, people caste more votes against the Jamal Leghari group as its candidates won seats with less margin while its rival groups obtained maximum margin or lead in votes.

It emerged as the single largest group, but could not get a simple majority to form the district government.

On the other hand, the opposition comprising Khosa-Maqsood Leghari group, the Taunsa Ittehad led by MPA Mir Badshah Qaisrani of the PML, MPA Fateh Muhammad Khan Buzdar and his sons, and Akram Khan Malghani have united against the Jamal Leghari group.

The nominations for the slots of district and tehsil nazims by the chief minister have created dissidence in the ruling party. Fateh Muhammad Buzdar, a tribal chief and an MPA, and Qaisrani tribe head Mir Badshah Qaisrani (MPA) have fielded their own candidates to get nazimship of tribal area and Taunsa Sharif tehsils, respectively.

PML provincial office-bearers Malik Iqbal Saqib and Dr Saleem Ahmad of the Jamal Leghari group are contesting election for the top slot of Dera Ghazi Khan tehsil as independent candidates.