RAWALPINDI, July 18: Electioneering for the elections of nazims, naib nazims and councillors of the union councils in Rawalpindi and its adjoining districts has started. In Rawalpindi, the ruling PML is divided. Raja Nasir, younger brother of Punjab minister for law Raja Basharat, Siddiq Khan, younger brother of federal labour minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, are probable contenders.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also wants to field his nephew Sheikh Raashid Shafiq for the top slot of the city district.

People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) also plan to field a joint candidate for the purpose. PPP’s district board has recommended the name of Raja Shahid Zafar, former federal minister, for the slot of the district nazim.

In Attock, the ruling PML is divided into three groups. Former district nazim Maj (retired) Tahir Sadiq Khan, a brother-in-law of PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, is candidate for the top slot.

Minister of State for Environment Malik Amin Aslam has formed his Ehtesab group against Tahir Sadiq.

Public Accounts Committee Chairman Malik Allah Yar Khan has formed another group to give Tahir Sadiq a tough time.

Malik Allah Yar, a veteran parliamentarian, succeeded in mustering support of ex-MNAs, Malik Laal Khan of the PML-N and Malik Amir Mohammad Khan of the PPP, and other heavyweight politicians of the area.

In Chakwal, too, the ruling PML is divided. Former federal minister and PML Senior Vice-President Lt-Gen (retired) Abdul Majeed Malik has announced that he would field his panel against former district nazim Sardar Ghulam Abbas backed by an ex-MNA, Sardar Mansoor Hayat Khan Tamman, of the PML.

In Jhelum, former district nazim Chaudhry Farukh Altaf — son of former Punjab governor late Chaudhry Altaf Hussain and nephew of Lahore High Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Hussain — is facing Nawabzada Iqbal Mehdi, ex-federal minister, as opponent.— PPI