FAISALABAD, April 14: At least 113 members of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (city) filed their nomination papers for the nine seats of chairmen of standing committees scheduled to be held on April 19.

Most of the candidates have filed more than one paper for different standing committees and are running from pillar to post to get the support of their colleagues.

Some 14 candidates are in the run for the election of chairman of regulation committee, 19 for finance, nine for the code of conduct, 19 for infrastructure, 10 for justice, 13 for sports, eight for accounts, 10 for bye-laws and 11 for the planning committee.

As many as 158 TMA members have also filed their papers for members of these standing committees and are struggling hard to win the elections.

TMA sources said a strong lobby of TMA employees and close associates of City Nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema are launching a campaign of pro-Nazim candidates. However, the opposition groups have also fielded strong candidates.

It may be mentioned that TMAs were bound to conduct elections of standing committees within 60 days after the introduction of the local government system. But the TMA City Nazim had nominated his favourites as chairmen and members of standing committees about a year ago.

The opposition group had approached the Lahore High Court which suspended the orders of the TMA Nazim and directed to hold elections.

ESCAPES: A nominated accused in a theft case managed his escape by dodging policemen of the Kotwali police station here on Sunday night.