MUZAFFARGARH, Jan 28: A PML-N candidate for Punjab Assembly slot has succumbed to what sources called “pressure tactics” and announced his retirement in favour of his rival PML-Q candidate while an independent candidate is resisting the official pressure.

Sources told Dawn that Chaudhry Gul Zaman, a PML-N candidate for PP-257, met former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi in Gujrat and announced his retirement in favour of PML-Q candidate Sardar Aun Muhammad Dogar, who is a nephew of Tehsil Nazim Sardar Abad Dogar.

Though Zaman has not so far withdrawn his nomination papers, Dogar will now face PPP’s Jam Mazhar and MMA’s Malik Qaswer Kareem Langrial in the Feb 18 general elections.

Zaman is the son-in-law of Atta Qureshi, another PML-N candidate in run for PP-258.

Sources said that Zaman was so pressed by the PML-Q leadership that he could not announce his retirement in his constituency and instead he visited Gujrat for this purpose. However, Zaman is now campaigning for the PML-Q candidate.

Talking to Dawn, Qaswar Langrial and Jam Mazhar said the government machinery was fully supporting PML-Q candidates and that pressure indeed compelled PML-N candidate to quit the political arena.

Talking to Dawn, Atta Qureshi, who is a former MNA, said he was a staunch PML-N worker and was not moved at all by his son-in-law’s recent announcement. He said his son-in-law had business interests in Gujrat and neighbouring districts and the PML-Q leadership might have exploited the situation.

Abdul Hayee Dasti is yet another candidate facing similar pressure for withdrawal of his nomination papers. Hayee, who is nephew of former MPA Sardar Amjad Hameed Dasti, is contesting for PP-254 as an independent and his rival PML-Q candidate is his cousin and Amjad Dasti’s daughter Tehmeena Dasti.

Hayee said his cousin was using state apparatus in her electioneering and she could be spotted visiting the offices of district coordination officer (DCO) or district police officer (DCO) quite often. Hayee said Tehmeena was largely relying on the DCO and the DPO to run her campaign.

Not only “pressure tactics” are plaguing the politics of this district, party discipline’s violation is yet another factor, which is turning the politics of this district turbulent.

PPP candidate for NA-176 Mian Mohsin Qurshi is helping MMA candidate for PP-251 Maulana Abdul Jalil, instead of his party candidate Barrister Yousaf Hinjra.

Mohsin Qureshi believes that the MMA has a large vote bank, particularly in Kotaddu city. He is also believed to have influenced by MMA’s contribution to his wife Khalida Mohsin Qureshi’s success during the 2002 general elections.

Though PML-N candidate for NA-178 Mian Ehsan Karim Qureshi has retired in favour of Nawabzada Mansoor Ahmad Khan, who is a Pakistan Democratic Party candidate, in return Nawabzada is not helping PML-N candidate for PP-254 Ghulam Mustafa Khar Junior.

Talking to Dawn, Khar Junior said that Nawabzada was helping independent candidate Mehr Nasir Abbas Traggar and the city was decorated with banners and posters carrying the pictures of Nasir Taraggar and Nawabzada Mansoor.