KASUR, June 2: Conflicting claims by the district naib nazim, who is supported by the ruling PML, and his political rivals regarding the restoration of his office by the apex court has created confusion among officials as well as the public.

The Lahore High Court had disqualified Naib Nazim Haji Maqsood Sabir Ansari not only from his office, but also from the peasant’s seat against which he had contested the election. Later, he moved the Supreme Court against the decision and claimed that the court had allowed him to continue as naib nazim.

His political rivals (who were respondents in the case in the apex court), including former TMA vice-chairman Shaukat Ali Ansari, Amanullah Ansari and Advocate Ghulam Ahmad Ansari, claimed that the naib nazim was illegally occupying his office and even enjoying the facility of two official vehicles and other privileges is violation of the Supreme Court orders of May 4, 2007.

They said the naib nazim took out a rally with a boastful display of fireworks and banners in the city leading the public to believe that the apex court had reinstated him. The court, comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, considering his petition for reinstatement to the post of district naib nazim, had issued orders not to hold the fresh elections scheduled to be held on May 5. The court converted his petition into an appeal to be fixed within two weeks, they said.

They demanded that the district administration should prevent him from using the privileges, saying they would move the apex court in a contempt petition.

Naib Nazim Haji Maqsood told Dawn that the Supreme Court had allowed him to hold the office and cancelled the LHC orders to conduct the election to replace him. He said his political opponents had launched propaganda against him to malign him as he enjoyed influence he and his father (a former MPA) had earned during the last three decades.

He said he would remove the misunderstandings in the forthcoming elections as he enjoyed public support, dropping a hint that he would move court against his adversaries.

It is interesting to note that the naib nazim’s rivals had been one of the leading supporters of his father Haji Ghulam Ahmad Ansari, who had been the MPA for five consecutive terms under the flag of the PML-N because Ansaris constitute more than half of the population of Kasur.

Misunderstanding in the group created when Ghulam Ansari and Amanullah Ansari contested election against Gohar Inayat Ansari, a nephew of Ghulam Ansari. The split in the PML-N proved advantageous for PPP’s Syed Muzaffar Husain Kazmi who carried the day, robbing the Ansaris of MPA slot after about 25 years.

Now the political analysts do not see any bright prospects for Ghulam Ansari and Amanullah as the former has a soft corner for Naeem Safdar Ansari, a likely candidate for MPA slot of the PML-N, and the latter is in the good books of the ruling party leaders in the district.

As far as Shaukat Ansari is concerned, his political career seems to be dwindling as he could not win election of a UC nazim against a new and independent candidate.

Analysts say Haji Maqsood Ansari is in a strong position against PPP MPA Muzaffar Kazmi who has reportedly lost favour in the party.