GUJRANWALA, Feb 25: Nazims ruling the affairs of four towns and three tehsils of Gujranwala are likely to join to the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) just for their political survival as the PML-N sets its sights on ruling the Punjab government. Most of the nazims, earlier, were affiliated with the PML-Q.

In Gujranwala, there are Khialai Shahpur, Aroop, Qila Dedar Singh and Nandipur towns and Kamoki, Naushera Virkan and Wazirabad tehsils. Adil Farooq Khan, Khiali Shahpur Town nazim, and Rizwan Zafar Cheema, Nandipur Town nazim, belong to the PML-Q while Aroop Town Nazim Rao Kamran and Qila Dedar Singh Town Nazim Mian Tariq Javed are affiliated with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the PML-N. Kamoki Tehsil Nazim Rana Sajjad and Wazirabad Tehsil Nazim Chaudhry Nawazish Ali Cheema are considered pro-PML-Q nazims. Naushera Virkan Tehsil Nazim Azhar Qayyum Nahra has no affiliation with any party.

The Khiali Shahpur town nazim was an activist of the PPP in the past but he changed his loyalty prior to the general election to get a PML-Q ticket for his brother, Amir Farooq Khan, for PP-91. After his brother lost the elections, he was trying to join the PPP and had contacted local PPP leaders.

Nandipur Town Nazim Rizwan Zafar Cheema is the son of former PML-Q MPA Zafarullah Cheema. He is likely to join the PML-N after the party forms the government in Punjab. Kamoki Tehsil Nazim Rana Sajjad Ahmed, the brother of former provincial minister Rana Shamshad Ahmed, is also likely to ditch the PML-Q.

Naushera Virkan Tehsil Nazim Azhar Qayyum Nahra, however, has yet to decide about his future politics. If his brother Muddaser Nahra, who was elected MNA as independent candidate, supports the PPP-led coalition government in the center, he will also join the PPP.

Wazirabad Tehsil Nazim Nawazish Ali Cheema is Hamid Nasir Chattha-led PML. He will follow the line what Chattha will be following in the coming days.