MUZAFFARGARH, Dec 11: All tehsil nazims in Muzaffargarh district are using official vehicles and resources in election campaigns of their relatives, who are contesting the election from the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) platform.

Kotaddu Tehsil Nazim Malik Rafique Khar has fielded his nephew Murtaza Rahim Khar from PP-253, Muzaffargarh Tehsil Nazim Sardar Abad Dogar has fielded his nephew Aun Dogar from PP-256 and Jatoi Tehsil Nazim Maria Bukhari’s two brothers are in the run - Haroon Sultan Bukhari is PML candidate in PP-258 and Basit Sultan Bukhari is PML candidate in NA-179. Alipur Tehsil Nazim Khizar Hayat Gopang is using resources to help his cousin Ashiq Gopang win election in NA-180.

Local Pakistan People’s Party leader Mazhar Pahoor said all tehsil nazims were using official vehicles and other resources in election campaigns of their relatives. He said the Muzaffargarh tehsil nazim had installed PML flag on his official jeep and allowed the use of other resources for his nephew’s campaign. He said the nazim had taken his office to his home in Khangarh because he was too busy in the electioneering to go to his office.

In Kotaddu, Tehsil Nazim Rafique Khar is using official resources for the success of his nephew Murtaza Khar against Ehsan Nolatia of the PPP and Tahir Miladi Khar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

In Jatoi, Maria Bukhari is extending all help to her brothers. It is said Ms Bukhari was elected tehsil nazim in 2005, but she did not took part in the oath-taking ceremony. Instead, another woman took oath as tehsil nazim on her behalf. She lives abroad and in her absence her father Abdullah Shah Bukhari acts as tehsil nazim.

Former district nazim Qayyum Jatoi said it was an open secret that official machinery was being used in the elections. Alipur Tehsil Nazim Khizar Gopang, who too has installed PML flag on his official jeep, is helping his kin in his election campaign.

Jatoi said all district coordination officers, district police officers and executive district officers had been appointed by PML Punjab President Pervaiz Elahi and they were openly helping PML candidates. He appealed to the election commissioner to transfer all these officials so that other officials can work neutrally.

An irrigation engineer said his senior officials had told their subordinates to obey PML candidates’ orders because they would form the next government.

All tehsil nazims refused to give their version on the report and their secretaries said they were busy in election campaigns.