TOBA TEK SINGH, March 29: A tough contest is expected for the district naib nazim slot between Chaudhry Khalid Sardar, the candidate of former district nazim Chaudhry Muhammad Ashfaq, and Pir Syed Manzar Abbas, the candidate announced by ruling benches from a former provincial minister group of Pirmahal, Makhdoom Pir Ali Raza. The elections are to be held on April 2.

Makhdoom Pir Ali Raza is the district’s leading landlord, enjoying support from the government and the opposition as well.

He has personal relations with Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi who had visited his house at Mauza Nasir Nagar during his last visit to Pirmahal. Ali Raza’s son Makhdoom Pir Husnain Raza is a sitting MPA of the PPPP from Pirmahal.

Political observers believe that chances for the success of Syed Manzar Abbas will become much bright if Ali Raza himself canvasses for him.

They also assess that in the recent constitutional crisis after the suspension of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, government circles will not be able to pressurise district council members, who are opposing the official candidate.

The naib nazim slot was vacated when Chaudhry Sultan had resigned from his office some two months back on the direction of the Punjab chief minister.

The decision had been taken at a meeting held in Lahore which was participated in by the chief minister, National Security Council secretary Tariq Aziz, Intelligence Bureau head Brig Ijaz Shah (retired), MNA from Gojra Chaudhry Amjad Ali Warraich, Punjab forest minister Dr Ashfaqur Rehman, MNA from Toba Mian Farhan Latif, MNA from Kamalia Riaz Fatyana, MPA from Rajana Brig Javed Akram (retired), MPA from Pirmahal Liaquat Ali Shaukat, MPA from Gojra Bilal Asghar Warraich, district nazim Chaudhry Abdul Sattar and former district nazim Chaudhry Muhammad Ashfaq.

It was also decided that Chaudhry Sultan of the district nazim group would resign and a candidate proposed by Chaudhry Muhammad Ashfaq would be got elected from the house. Later, Chaudhry Sultan had resigned from his office.

Chaudhry Ashfaq had already announced a Pirmahal town UC nazim, Chaudhry Khalid Sardar, as his candidate for the naib nazim slot, but ruling benches resented the decision. District nazim Chaudhry Abdul Sattar had not attended any meetings.

A group of nazims of various UCs belonged to ruling benches had formed a group with the name of Haqiqi. They held their meetings where UC nazims criticised the PML’s provincial leadership for giving this coveted slot to the former district nazim Chaudhry Ashfaq group. They also blamed Chaudhry Ashfaq for keeping contacts with PPPP leader Khalid Ahmad Kharal.

The Haqiqi group said that Chaudhry Ashfaq’s nominee Chaudhry Khalid Sardar was still an office-bearer of the PML-N.

They claimed that 74 members out of a total 116 members were with ruling benches and they would support their candidate Syed Manzar Abbas.

Chaudhry Khalid Sardar claimed that he had the support of 65 district council members.

He also held various meetings which were attended by MNA from Gojra Chaudhry Amjad Ali Warraich and MNA from Toba Mian Farhan Latif. He advised members of ruling benches to abide by the decision of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi.

When contacted, district nazim Chaudhry Abdul Sattar said he was bound to abide by the chief minister’s decision with regard to the PML candidature for the district naib nazim slot.

He said he did not back the recently held meetings by various UC nazims belonged to his group. He, however, said that he would accept anyone elected by the house.