SIALKOT, Sept 30: The six-year-old rivalry between the PML-QA candidate for NA-111, former federal minister Chaudhry Ameer Hussain, and Variyo family’s head ex-MNA Chaudhry Akhtar Ali Variyo ended on Monday when the latter announced to bury the past in larger national interest.

Mr Variyo, convicted by NAB in several corruption cases, made the announcement at a public meeting in Variyo House, Sialkot Cantt. The PML-QA had been seeking his political support for knocking out PML-N in the district.

Chaudhry Akhtar openly campaigned for PML-QA candidates in Pasrur and rural Sialkot, asking the people to vote for PML-QA’s Chaudhry Ameer in NA-111 and Zahid Hamid in NA-114. He also went to his native Bajwat to generate support for PML-QA.

The patch-up between Chaudhry Ameer and Chaudhry Akhtar is being termed a great setback for PML-N’s Idrees Ahmad Bajwa in NA-111. Similarly, Chaudhry Akhtar is likely to strengthen the position of PML-QA’s Zahid Hamid, who is the elder brother of former Punjab governor Shahid Hamid, in NA-114 against PPP’s Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas.

The convicted Variyo had earlier campaigned for Sialkot district Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid. No body dares arrest him.

In PP-125, Chaudhry Akhtar is busy in electioneering for his elder son ex-provincial minister Chaudhry Khush Akhtar Subhani, who is also a PML-QA candidate. A NAB court awarded bail to Mr Subhani on medical grounds.

In PP-127, the convict is canvassing for his nephew, PML-QA candidate Chaudhry Armughan Subhani.

Sialkot was once considered a stronghold of the PML-N.