BAHAWALPUR, Oct 22: Differences have surfaced within the ranks of the Bahawalpur Ittehad, a PML-supported alliance, over the nomination of candidates for the slots of naib nazims.

Differences came to light during an iftar dinner on Friday night which was hosted by Syed Irfan Gardezi, a PML-backed candidate for the deputy district nazim slot. Punjab PML chief Pervaiz Elahi had already nominated him last month.

During the function, the Bahawalpur Ittehad leaders, including District Nazim Tariq Cheema, wanted to finalize names of candidates for tehsil nazims’ slots of six tehsils of Bahawalpur district.

It was learnt that there was a tussle between the rival groups for claiming the nomination on the basis of their performance during the election campaign for district and tehsil nazims on Oct 6 here. On account of some heated debate, the matter was deferred with a note by group leader Tariq Cheema that the Bahawalpur Ittehad would take decision after the announcement of the election schedule for slots of naib nazims.

However, the Bahawalpur Ittehad has finalized its nominees for five other tehsils. It was decided that Chaudhry Basharat Randhawa and Sarwar Gill would fight for the naib nazim slots in Yazman and Hasilpur tehsils, respectively.

While Chaudhry Ijaz Safdar, son of former MPA Chaudhry Safdar Husain will fight for Bahawalpur Sadar TMA, Makhdum Sibtain Bokhari for Ahmedpur East TMA and Sheikh Abdul Ghaffar for Khairpur Tamewali TMA.

The election commission has yet to announce the election schedule.

APPROVED: The district development committee (DDC) at its meeting held here on Saturday approved 63 uplift projects costing over Rs50 million for different areas.