FAISALABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid is losing its ground in Faisalabad rapidly as a majority of the people who returned to the parliament on its ticket have bid farewell to it. Four political families — Sahi, Nazir, Baloch and Cheema -- who enjoyed perks and privileges during the Musharraf era have switched over their loyalties and joined the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party.

Presently, the family of Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, former provincial minister for works and communication, is associated with the PML-Q. Whereas Tauseef group comprising former state minister Asif Tauseef and former district nazim Zahid Tauseef is also attached with the Q.

Both are silent and rumours are rife that they will also desert the PML-Q.

Afzal Sahi considered close to Chaudhrys of Gujrat had served as speaker Punjab Assembly after winning the 2002 general elections.

His brother Ghulam Rasool Sahi, a retired military man, had won NA-75 seat in the same election by trouncing PPP candidate Wajid Mustafa Bajwa. Sahi obtained 55,464 votes and Bajwa 35,417.

Both brothers and another member of their family were also fielded by the PML-Q in the 2008 elections, however, only Muzaffar Zulqarnain Sahi made it to the assembly (PP-52).

PPP candidate Tariq Mehmood Bajwa, who is also the district president of the party, defeated Ghulam Rasool Sahi. Bajwa secured 83,699 votes and Sahi 68,196.

For PP-51 slot, Haji Liaquat Ali of the PPP got 44,893 votes and defeated Afzal Sahi who secured 33,777 votes.

The Nazir family, comprising former MNA Asim Nazir and ex-district nazim Zahid Nazir, has also joined the PML-N recently and is hoping to get tickets for NA-76 and NA-77.

Asim contested election from NA-77 in the 2002 and 2008 polls and won both times.

In 2002, Asim polled 63,296 votes and defeated Akram Chaudhry of the PML-N who secured only 26,542 votes.

In 2008, he got 63,776 votes by trouncing Talal Chaudhry of the PML-N who secured 49,807 votes.

Zahid Nazir was fielded by the PML-Q for NA-76 slot and defeated by Malik Nawab Sher Waseer of PPP.

The latter got 43,294 votes and the former 41,068.

The Rajab Baloch family also remained associated with the PML-Q and won NA-78 seat by crushing PML-N’s Muhammad Ashraf Zia.

Baloch bagged 57,071 votes and Zia 41,026. Rajab was also fielded in 2008 elections by PML-Q and defeated by Raheela Perveen of PPP by more than 20,000 ballots.

Now he and his relative Sadullah Baloch have joined the PML-N.

Former federal textile minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema and his brother Mumtaz Ali Cheema, former city nazim, is the fourth family who has parted ways with the Q recently and joined PPP.

Mushtaq had been fielded twice by PML-Q in the general elections of 2002 and 2008 for NA-83 slot.

In 2002, Cheema secured 38,278 votes and defeated PPP aspirant Ijaz Virk who clinched 37,431 ballots.

With this victory, Cheema had been appointed the first federal textile minister considering his affiliation with Faisalabad, the textile capital of Pakistan.

However, in 2008 elections Virk levelled his defeat Cheema had inflicted on him.

This time Virk secured 56,910 ballots and Cheema 26,599.

A veteran politician who remained attached with the PML-Q and now joined the PML-N told Dawn requesting anonymity that N’s political graph had moved upward because it had taken a strong stance over different issues like power crisis and distribution of gas.

He said the two sectors had jolted every sector of life making it difficult for labourers to make both ends meet.

He said both the issues severely hit the PPP and the PML-Q as they were federal subjects and both parties were coalition partners.

He said the PML-N was also being criticised because of its failure to control the young doctors, medicine scam, dengue spectre and critical law and order situation in the province.