FAISALABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Rana Afzal has posted a copy of an alleged agreement signed by a city council chairman of the ruling party on his Facebook wall in which he (chairman) pledged to vote for Malik Abdul Razzaq in mayoral poll against an amount of Rs2.2 million.

The amount was allegedly received by Iqrar Ansari, chairman of city council-26, Hajveri Town, in December last for “development” of his constituency.

The “agreement” titled “Affidavit” reads.”I, Mohammad Iqrar Ansari (chairman CC-26) admit that I received Rs 2.2 million with the reference of MPA Khalid Saeed from Malik Abdul Razzaq to vote (for) him for mayor slot. The amount has been received for development work in my constituency.”

The document reads in return for the amount “I pledge to vote for Abdul Razzaq for mayor slot and would abide by his (Malik Razzaq) genuine demands till the latter remained in power as mayor.”

As per the agreement, Mr Ansari also authorised Malik Razzaq for taking legal action against him if he (Iqrar) failed to follow his directions.

Malik Razzaq, brother of PML-N MPA Malik Nawaz, was fielded by the group led by Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah and he defeated Sheraz Kahloon, a candidate of rival Sher Ali group.

Sher Ali is father of state minister for water and power Abid Sher Ali.

To counter the allegation, Mr Ansari also posted a page on his Facebook wall, claiming he took an oath on the Holy Quran that he did not receive any money from Mr Razzaq.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Iqrar said Rana Afzal had been maligning him as he had refused to vote for Sheraz Kahloon. He said Neela Gujjar, a candidate for deputy mayor slot, fielded by Sher Ali group had also offered him money for voting in favour of Mr Kahloon.

He said a meeting of the NA-82 city council chairmen had been convened on Tuesday at the mayor’s house to devise a strategy in response to the “fabricated” agreement copy.

Khalid Saeed said the issue raised by Rana Afzal was rubbish.

When asked if he had inform the party leadership about the issue, he said the leadership had no time for such non-issues.

Rana Afzal, MNA from NA-82, said the agreement’s copy had been distributed in the constituency of Mr Ansari and he (Afzal) had nothing to do with it.

He said except 10 city council chairmen from NA-82 no one received even a penny from anyone. He said it was prerogative of the chairmen to convene their meeting over the issue.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2017