LAHORE, Sept 13: Former Lahore nazim Mian Amer Mahmood and his rival, PML-N MPA Rana Mash’hood Ahmad Khan, on Tuesday submitted their nominations for the office of district nazim.

Both are involved in a straight contest as none other filed papers for the coveted office.

Mian Aamer, being supported by the ruling PML, and Rana Mashhood, having the backing of the combined opposition comprising the PPP, the PML-N and the MMA, reached the returning officer’s office at the head of processions of their supporters who kept on raising slogans.

While the ruling party-supported candidates filed nominations for every office — nazim and reserved seats for women, peasants and workers — in the city district and all the nine towns, the opposition extended their support to candidates for fewer offices.

The PML-N has put candidates for the district and three town nazim. The PPP is supporting candidates in six towns, while the MMA is mostly supporting candidates for reserved seats in the city district and towns.

Mian Aamer told reporters later that the election was a “formality” as he was the next district nazim “for sure”. He claimed the support of 103 union council nazims.

About 300 candidates filed nomination on Tuesday raising the total number to 455.

TOWNS: Ejaz Dyal, the brother of former MNA Ashiq Dyal, filed papers for the office of Wagah Town nazim, while ruling party’s Begum Shafqatun Nisa submitted her candidature for the Shalamar Town. Her main rival is Zahid Zulfiqar of the PPP.

Trader Yunus Sheikh, who has won the backing of the party in power, is running for the office of Nishtar Town nazim. PPP’s Dr Zahid Ikram Nat is his rival.

Chaudhry Fraz Ahamd is the ruling party’s candidate for the office of Gulberg Town nazim, while the PPP has fielded Afgan Butt. Malik Shahid Aslam is an independent candidate.

Mian Javed Ali is the PML nominee for the Samanabad Town. His rival is PPP’s Akbar Khan. The third candidate for the high office is Mian Javed.

The PML candidate for Ravi Town, Yusuf Ahad, is the son of MPA Malik Ahad, who won on the PML-N ticket and later changed his loyalty. PPP’s Zakariya Butt is his main rival, while Wajid Husain is an independent candidate.

Tariq Sana Bajwa is the ruling party’s candidate for the Data Ganj Bakhsh Town. His rival is PML-N’s Mian Marghoob Ahmad.

Mohammad Ashraf and Hamid Sarwar are the ruling party and the PML-N nominees, respectively, in the Aziz Bhatti Town.

There is an interesting race for the Allama Iqbal Town nazim where the ruling party’s Sardar Kamil Omar is pitted against his brother and former nazim of the same town Sardar Adil Omar. Chaudhry Atif is the opposition candidate along with Mohammad Ashraf and Ashraf Ali who, the two independent candidates.

SCRUTINY: The scrutiny of the papers will be held on Sept 16 and appeals against the decision will be heard on Sept 18. Candidates can withdrawn their names from the contest by Sept 21 and the final list will be displayed the next day. Polling to elect the 166-member city district and the councils of nine towns will be held on October 6.