SIALKOT, Oct 3: The ARD has lent support to Mian Naeem Javaid, a candidate for district nazim slot, against ruling party’s Muhammad Akmal Cheema. The MMA is already backing Javaid.

The ARD leadership announced the decision on Monday during a public meeting at Aallo Mahaar Sharif Motra near Daska.

A large number of the UC nazims, naib nazims and supporters attended the meeting besides PML-N’s former MNA Sahibzada Syed Iftikharul Hassan Shah, who was in chair, ARD’s Daska tehsil nazim candidate Nasir Mehmood Cheema, ex-MPA Rana Shamim Ahmad, Jamaat-I-Islami’s Sialkot district Ameer Muhammad Imtiaz Baryar.

Speakers who vowed to give a tough time to PML candidate Akmal Cheema, condemned the ‘official protocol and special police escort’ being extended to him.

They alleged that despite warnings issued by the Election Commission, all the PML candidates in the district were involved in violation of election code of conduct and misuse of official machinery.

They said that NA Speaker Ameer Hussain, Federal Parliamentary Secretary Dr Fardous Ashiq Awan and Punjab Minister for Industries Muhammad Ajmal Cheema were busy in the election campaign of PML candidates.bank robbery: Three unidentified dacoits took away Rs3,59000 and gold ornaments from two lockers of Habib Bank Limited, Chawinda main branch, Pasrur here on Sunday night.

Reports said the dacoits forced their entry into the branch at midnight, held hostage the security guard and took away the cash and jewellery worth hundreds of thousands of rupees.

Phalora police have registered a case and are investigating with no arrest or recovery.

It was the second bank robbery in two main branches of HBL in the district during the last three days. Three unidentified robbers had looted Rs1.8 million in cash from the Habib Bank Sialkot main bazaar branch two days ago.