DERA GHAZI KHAN, Oct 4: The Legharis are facing tough time in their own area due to opposition of Dareshaks and Mazaris. Interestingly, both the groups claim the support of the ruling PML.

In Rajanpur, the Leghari group, led by Farooq Leghari, is facing strong opposition from the group, led by MNA Nasrullah Dareshak, and Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Shaukat Mazari.

It may be remembered that the Leghari group remained in power in Rajanpur and DG Khan districts during the last four years of local government.

The CM nominated Nasrullah Dareshak’s son Ali Raza for Rajanpur district nazim. While Khwaja Ghulam Farid, grandson of saint Khwaja Ghulam Farid, claimed that he had the support of Balkh Sher Mazari and the PPP against Ali Raza.

The Dareshak group has clear majority in Rajanpur. It has full support of the government. The group won in 15 of 16 UCs of Rajanpur tehsil. In Rojhan tehsil, Shaukat Mazari and Dareshak group won six of eight councils, in Jampur, Dareshak group got eight UCs out of 19. In these circumstances, Farooq Leghari group cum Mir Mazari group is contesting elections for the top slot of district and tehsil of Rajanpur.

In Rajanpur, former nazim Khalilur Rehman Dareshak has been elected unopposed to the top office. He is a close relative and nominee of Nasrullah Dareshak. Mir Mazari and Shaukat Mazari groups are contesting against each other.

In Jampur tehsil, the Dareshak group named eight panels while Leghari group 11 panels out of 19. Former district naib nazim Mirza Ubaid Mughal, backed by Jafar Leghari, is contesting for the top slot. The Dareshak group has fielded Nasrullah Tareen against the Leghari group. Sources said in the presence of CM, both groups reached a consensus that the Leghari group would get naib nazim of district and Rojhan tehsil nazim will go to Sher Koh, and Jampur tehsil nazim office will go to Leghari group while Rajanpur tehsil nazimship will go to Dareshak group. But both the group failed to honour the commitment.

It is learnt that there are differences between MNA Jafar Leghari and Farooq Leghari over the selection of candidates and election strategy in the tehsil. It may be recalled that the chief minister authorized Jafar Leghari and his wife to take the decision of tehsil nazimship. Both want independent role in their constituency but group leader and cousin Farooq Leghari does not agree with the couple. That is why the Legharis are facing tough time in their own area despite having an edge over the Dareshaks.