GUJRANWALA, July 2: The ruling PML has been divided into two groups over the local body elections as over half a dozen aspirants are seeking support of like-minded groups to contest for the district nazim seat. According to reports, the ruling party’s one group comprises provincial transport minister Chaudhry Shamshad Ahmad Khan, provincial food minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal Gujjar, minister of state Shahid Akram Bhinder, federal parliamentary secretary Bilal Ijaz, MPA Amanat Ali Virk and former MPA Abdul Rehman Gujjar.

While the second group consists of MNA Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha, former federal minister Rana Nazir Ahmad Khan, his son and federal parliamentary secretary Rana Umer Nazir and MPAs Mudasser Qayyum Nahra, Mian Mazher Javed and others.

The former group is facing problems as provincial food minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal’s son Asif Iqbal, senator Muhammad Anwer Bhinder’s son Navid Anwar, the nephew of state minister Shahid Akram Bhinder and ex-MPA and PML district president Chaudhry Zaferullah Cheema, the father of chief minister’s advisor Dr Sohail Zafer Cheema, are aspirants for the district nazim seat.

Similarly, the situation in the latter’s group is also no different as former district nazim Fiaz Ahmad Chattha, the son of Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha, and former federal minister Rana Nazir Ahmad Khan and others are also in the run for the coveted seat.

It is learnt that all these aspirants belong to the Jat biradari.

Former district nazim Fiaz Ahmad Chattha wants to continue his winning streak, but the PPP has reportedly refused to support him this time. The PPP is now planning to field its own aspirant. Names of former district naib nazim Haji Goher Zaman (Arain baradari) and former MNA Chaudhry Abdullah Virk are being considered for this seat.

Meanwhile, ruling party’s former state minister Col Ghulam Sarwer Cheema (retired) had already declared to oppose aspirants of the Chattha group at a news conference a few days back. He had also criticized the PPP and showed the intention of bringing the aspirant of his own faction in the LB elections.

The PML-N is preparing to field on the district nazim seat former advisor to prime minister Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan, the son of former federal minister Ghulam Dastagir Khan.

The Jamaat Islami has also announced its participation in the elections in the name of the Al-Khidmat group. While the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal is still consulting with the like-minded politico-religio groups for its unanimous candidate.