KASUR: As Hussain Khanwala village’s child abuse scar is slowly healing, the place is bracing for another battle -- local election.
The village has traditionally enjoyed unity in political field but the recent scandal has created a rift dividing its people over the local government elections.
A good competition is expected between Mubeen Ghaznavi, the leader of the affected people, and old political figures of the area and corner meetings are in full swing. Ghaznavi having support of the victims and their families announced his candidature for chairman slot.
Hussain Khanwala union council comprises 12 villages including Bagay, Nooriwala, Ratnaykay, Bhadian Usman, Ghayai Jaman, Jhagay, Sheikh Amaad, Hussain Khanwala, Banbodla and Rajiwala, with about 10,000 voters.
Three independent candidates are in the race; Ghaznavi of Hussain Khanwala is contesting for chairman slot and with him is Nadeem Shah of Banbodla village for vice chairman, Master Zafar Iqbal of Hussain Khanwala has Muhammad Asif of Bhadian Usman as vice chairman, while Master Muhammad Azam of Ratnaykay has Zafar Iqbal Jamali to contest as vice chairman.
In the past, Hussain Khanwala unanimously announced a candidate from the village. About two weeks back, new political scene emerged when Ghaznavi organised a meeting at Doctorwala Chowk. Former nazim Riaz Ahmed Bhutta also attended the meeting and he was criticised for not cooperating with the victims of the recent scandal. Shahzaib and Danish, the victims, criticized Bhutta, Master Bashir Ahmed Teeka and local politician Muhammad Sagheer.
Ghaznavi also spoke on the occasion and claimed that it was due to his efforts that the voice of the victims of child abuse was raised at both national and international level. He said many other people including Bhutta, Teeka and Sagheer had been insisting on ‘reconciliation’.
Another meeting was held a week ago for the suitable candidate from the village and eventually Ghaznavi was named candidate for chairman. Ghaznavi has the support of victims, their families and a group of other villagers and is likely to be backed by the PPP.
Meanwhile, Riaz Bhutta, Sagheer and Bashir Teeka announced Master Zafar Iqbal as their candidate for chairman slot, while political group of villages Bhadian Usman, Ghai Jaman, Rajiwala, Nooriwala and Sheikh Ammad unanimously supported Iqbal and attached Muhammad Asif as vice chairman slot contestant. The two candidates had rejected the PML-N offer for ticket and preferred to contest as independent candidates.
Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2015
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