FAISALABAD, Aug 7: As the electioneering for various union council slots has gained momentum in the district, the candidates for the top positions of the towns and city district have also jumped into the poll arena amid reports of large-scale election code violations.

Despite the clear Election Commission announcement about holding of the local bodies elections on non-party basis, all most all the major political parties’ local leaders are taking part in the campaigns of their favourites directly.

The parliamentarians belonging to both treasury and opposition benches are often seen addressing the public meetings arranged by the candidates backed by their respective parties. Some of the government ministers are also taking part in the campaigns of the candidates flouting the official policy and the code of conduct.

A majority of nazims and naib nazims seats’ aspirants from the eight towns— Samundri, Tandlianwala, Chak Jhumra, Jaranwala, Lyallpur, Jinnah, Iqbal and Madina— are trying to win the support of ruling party.

However, the opposition parties are also seen active in fielding their workers as candidates for the local councils.

Former district nazim Zahid Nazir has again succeeded in winning the ruling party support for the same slot. Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar, Federal Textile Industry Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema, Provincial Communication and Works minister and Punjab PML Secretary-General Zaheeruddin Khan, Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister Dr Muhammad Shafiq, besides many MNAs and MPAs belonging to the ruling party have recently announced to back Zahid Nazir.

After Mr Nazir’s ‘selection’ for the city district nazim seat, the two major aspirants for the same slot — former naib district nazim Raza Nasarullah Ghuman, who had joined the PML after parting ways with the PPP and PML Punjab Vice-President Rana Zahid Mehmood—- are said to be in hot waters. Former Tehsil nazim, Tandlianwala, Ali Gohar Baloch, has also been fielded for the same post for the second tenure.

Mr Gohar claims to enjoy the support of area MNAs and MPAs as well as a good number of candidates for UC nazims and councillors’ slots.

However, in Jaranwala, PML leaders introduced one Chaudhry Muneer Ahmed, a close relative of Mr Wasi Zafar, replacing former Tehsil nazim Rana Abdul Rehman, who had won the 2001 Local Bodies elections from the PPP platform but later joined the ruling PML.

For Samundri Town nazim slot, another newcomer Shah Nawaz has been fielded by the ruling party as its nominee ignoring the political weight of Mazhar Ali Gill. Mr Nawaz is a nephew of Chaudhry Rasheed, who has strong links with the Chaudhries of Gujrat.

The candidate for Chak Jhumra Town nazim has also been finalized but the announcement is expected to be made by Punjab Assembly Speaker Muhammad Afzal Sahi as it is his native town. Fawad Cheema, former Tehsil nazim Chak Jhumra will again be the nominee from the ruling party for the slot.

In district’s urban areas, the situation is unclear due to the division of two Tehsils— City and Saddar— into four towns, Lyallpur, Madina, Jinnah and Iqbal.

On the other hand, the candidates interested in contesting the elections from the platforms of the PML-N, PPP-P and MMA are also hoping to give a tough time to the government-backed aspirants.

PPP MPA Raja Riaz Ahmed is being considered a strong candidate for the city district nazim seat from the opposition side. However, his name would be announced by the party’s central command within the next few days.

Former MNA Rana Zahid Tauseef, brother of PML-N MNA Rana Asif Tauseef, is also a candidate for the city nazim slot. However, a final decision about the nominees from the PML-N would be announced by party’s city president former MPA Khawaja Muhammad Islam and district president former MNA Safdar Rehman with the consultation of former MNA Sher Ali.

Likewise, MMA district president Sardar Zafar Hussain has also announced to contest for the city district nazim slot. He has even started his campaign.

Meanwhile, the code of conduct violations by union council candidates are rampant both in the rural and urban areas of the district. Firing, blocking of roads, meetings with lavish meals, installation of huge billboards and banners, wallchalking, interviews on cable TV networks, and mudslinging against each other by the candidates is common.