TOBA TEK SINGH, Aug 21: Regrouping has been started in the district for the next local council elections which are expected to be held in 2005.

District Nazim Chaudhry Muhammad Ashfaq is also trying to expand his group in this regard. If the government does not impose the graduation condition for the district Nazim slot, Mr Ashfaq will once again be a candidate. And if the condition is imposed, he will field his son Kashif Ashfaq for the district Nazim office.

His opponent group has decided to field former federal minister Chaudhry Asadur Rehman, the son of justice Chaudhry Muhammad Siddiq (retired) and brother of Supreme Court judge justice Khalil Ramday.

Mr Rehman elected MNA thrice from Kamalia is the relative of two former district council chairmen Mian Asadur Rehman and Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf.

Chaudhry Asadur Rehman will have the support of Gojra MNA Chaudhry Amjad Ali Warraich (who was defeated by the present district Nazim), former PPP MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq, Punjab forest minister Dr Ashfaqur Rehman, former PML MPA Chaudhry Nasim Ahmed, former PML MPA Sardar Masood Gadhi and Kamalia MNA Riaz Fatyana groups.

A ruling group MPA, Chaudhry Liaquat Ali Shaukat, who is not happy with the policies of the district Nazim, is also likely to lend his support to Chaudhry Asadur Rehman.

Former national assembly's public accounts committee chairman M Hamza had supported Chaudhry Ashfaq during the last district Nazim elections. But he may also oppose him in the next election because Mr Hamza is overtly criticizing Chaudhry Ashfaq.

Former PPP central executive committee member Ghiasuddin Janbaz, PML-N youth wing divisional president Chaudhry Amjad Ali Javed and city union council Nazim Muhammad Afzal advocate are also claiming to oppose Chaudhry Ashfaq.