SARGODHA, June 24: As the local elections draw nearer, clouds hovering over Sargodha district don’t seem to be propitious for the incumbent district and tehsil nazims because veteran politicians are making frantic efforts to strengthen their position.

This shows that biradarism will play a vital role in the outcome of the election. The main political groups are being headed by the Piracha, Cheema and the Qureshi families.

Reports emerging from the situation reveals that PPP stalwart Ehsanul Haq Piracha, a former minister of state for finance, and Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema, who became a National Assembly member for the sixth term, are on the forefront for they have a firm footing in the district.

As differences among the ruling PML activists are deepening day by day and the MMA also doesn’t seem to be in a commanding position, Mr Piracha is most likely to field either his son Haroon Piracha or younger brother Sheikh Inamul Haq Piracha, an MNA, for the covetous district nazim’s slot.

The PPP has currently two factions — one is headed by MNA Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi and the other by Malik Azizul Haq, the father of MPA Dr Nadia Aziz.

Mr Piracha is enjoying influence throughout the district, as at least 35 members of his family were inducted in the last district assembly courtesy his known political insight. Loyalty to his party is surely an added bonus for the family.

Moreover, the Piracha family has its roots from the partition whereas all other prospective contenders are relatively new to the field.

As for the ruling party, it is clearly divided into many groups. One group is headed by MNA Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema, another by Mian Mazhar Ahmad Qureshi, the Kalyar group by Mian Ashraf Kalyar, the Mela group by MNA Ghaus Ahmad Mela, who enjoys patronage of his cousin — a serving army general — and the Ranjha group is led by Mian Manazir Ali Ranjha, provincial colonies minister.

Mr Cheema has Ms Tanzeela Amir Cheema as another MNA in his family. She is a niece of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Chaudhry Shujaat Husain. While his son Chaudhry Amer Sultan Cheema, provincial irrigation minister, is enjoying support of MNA Shahzadi Tiwana, who is the landlady of Kalra State in Shahpur tehsil, MPAs — Malik Shoaib Awan and Mehr Rabnawaz Lak — Sahiwal Tehsil Nazim Nawab Asghar Lehri, Shahpur Tehsil Nazim Sardar Bahadur Abbas Meikan and Sargodha Tehsil Nazim Dr Liaquat Ali Khan.

The group is interested in fielding Ms Tanzeela for the nazim’s position, as she earned fame as the Sargodha district council chairperson before the devolution plan.

Mian Mazhar Qureshi and Ghias Ahmad Mela are also trying to steal the limelight.

Though District Nazim Malik Amjad Ali Noon is propagating that he is amply supported by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, he stands little chance of retaining the seat for switching loyalties during his last tenure. Nevertheless he is confident, perhaps, believing that miracles do happen.

Dr Liaquat, Bhalwal Tehsil Nazim Mian Naseer Jalip and Sillanwali Tehsil Nazim Rana Munawar Ghaus have hardly any standing in politics.

However, Sardar Bahadur Abbas Meikan and Sardar Asghar Lehri have some edge because of their family background. If the sixth tehsil is notified, Mian Manazir Ranjha will field his son or brother for its nazim and face his traditional opponents, including PML-N’s Shahnawaz Ranjha and PPP’s Muhammad Aslam Midhana, besides Badrana family.

Mr Ranjha, however, seems to be least interested in the politics of the entire district. He was considered to be the main supporter of nazim Malik Amjad when a no-confidence move was tabled by the Cheema group.

In Sahiwal and Shahpur, Mian Mazhar Qureshi has a strong hold so much so that he is reportedly openly challenging Chaudhry Anwar Cheema. Differences between them surfaced when Mr Cheema supported Mr Lehri and ‘interfered’ in Sahiwal tehsil affairs.

The Qureshi brothers — Mazhar, Mian Ilyas and Mian Munir — have their influence in Sahiwal tehsil. Sial Sharif Sajjada Nasheen Syed Inayat Ali Shah, a former DIG, too, has some influence. However, refugee group and some settlers, Lati and Lehri among them, will definitely support the Cheema’s nominees.

The Kalyars have their say in Sahiwal and Sillanwali and while remaining in the PML, they will definitely want their domain in the two tehsils.

Mr Cheema, however, sees prospects of either his brother-in-law Chaudhry Farrukh Javed Ghuman or his son Faisal Ghuman as Sillanwali’s nazim for which the Kalayar group will not compromise.

For Sargodha tehsil, either Haji Muhammad Aslam Katchela or Sheikh Munir Ahmad will be the ruling party’s choice, but Dr Liaquat will not be supported by the PML because of alleged corruption and irresponsible attitude.

Another potential candidate for the slot is Mateen Qureshi, a brother of Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi who was removed from this post on the orders of the Supreme Court, and Dr Liaquat was allowed to work as tehsil nazim.

For Bhalwal tehsil, the main contest will take place between a nominee of the Piracha group and Chaudhry Nasir Ali, son of the late Chaudhry Muhammad Ali. A close contest is expected between them because both contenders belong to the well-to-do families and have a reasonable vote bank in their respective areas. The Piracha family nominee will benefit from the absence of Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, who came quite close to the Pirachas in the last general election despite appearing in politics for the first time.

Some people still believe that Chaudhry Nasir may earn some sympathy votes and the PML support may help him get to the tehsil nazimship. Sitting Nazim Mian Naseer Jalip is also showing his interest in retaining the slot, but neither the PML nor the PML-N nor the Pirachas will support him.

Not to forget that the MMA will play a significant role in the Bhalwal polls and if they field their own candidate, the PPP nominee will be in a better position.

Sons of the late Pir Karam Shah of Bhera have always played a crucial role, but this time they are under hot water as just a couple of months ago Barrister Bahaul Haq Farooq Shah was involved in a murder case, which certainly tarnished his reputation.

The current scenario reveals that a majority of the existing nazims of Sargodha district and five tehsils will not be there for a second term. However, Sargodha Tehsil Naib Nazim Chaudhry Hamid Saleem Warriach, a cousin of National Security Council secretary Chaudhry Tariq Aziz, has been reportedly assured by a majority of the sitting nazims of union councils of support for the district nazim’s seat. He is also close to Mr Cheema and may be acceptable to him.

Though Amjad Noon claims that he has been fair and judicious throughout his tenure, most recently he, after presenting the next fiscal budget on the evening of June 22, threw a party in the honour of members and a large number of people, and also arranged a musical show which cost about Rs62,000.