SARGODHA, Sept 22: Despite reconciliatory efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, the rift between the two PML groups in the district respectively headed by MNA Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema and MNA Mian Mazhar Ahmad Qureshi could not end.

In the Tuesday meeting held at Mr Cheema’s residence, the chief minister had announced that Inamul Haq Piracha would be the PML-backed candidate for the district nazim slot. He had also announced withdrawal of Mr Cheema’s candidature for the slot.

It was also decided that all parliamentarians of the ruling party would support the candidates nominated by Mr Cheema for all tehsils of the district.

But things went wrong for the PML when a group comprising MNA Mazhar Ahmed Qureshi, Maj Asghar Kalyar and Khalid Kalyar refused to abide by the party decision and pledged to continue the campaign for their nominees in Sahiwal, Shah Pur and Sillanwali.

In Sahiwal, Qureshi group has fielded Akhtar Hussain Baloch as tehsil nazim candidate against PML nominee Ghulam Asghar Lehri. Similarly, the group is supporting Nawabzada Muhammad Ilyas Qureshi in Shah Pur tehsil against PML’s Sardar Fateh Khan Meikan, who is also being supported by MNA Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana. A close fight is expected in the tehsil and armed clashes may occur between the two groups.

In Sillanwali, Chaudhry Farrukh Javed Ghuman is quite confident of his success although kalyar and Qureshis are opposing him as well. Mr Ghuman has reportedly refused to appeal to PML leadership for assistance.

For Bhalwal tehsil nazim slot, Nasir Muhammad Ali, PML’s vice-president, has launched his campaign vigorously against the party’s nominee Malik Imtiaz Bhirth.

In kotmomen tehsil, Zafar Alam Midhiana, a PPP nominee, is opposing Bakhtiar Mela, brother of MNA Chaudhry Ghias Ahmed Mela, a PML nominee.

Meanwhile, it is reliably learnt that high-ups of the ruling party have directed the government functionaries to ensure withdrawal of ‘hostile candidates’ and they have been given a free hand in this regard.

Meanwhile, the returning officers allotted elections symbols to the candidates contesting for the district and tehsil slots, besides the reserved seats.