SARGODHA, Sept 13: Pakistan People’s Party MNA Sheikh Inamul Haq Piracha filed nomination papers as PML-backed candidate for the coveted district nazim slot here on Tuesday with the returning officer/additional district and sessions judge Syed Pervez Ali Shah.

Led by former minister of state and PPP central executive member Ahsanul Haq Piracha, the Piracha group has for all purposes joined the ruling party though a formal announcement is yet to be made.

Brother of Ahsan, Inamul Haq was accompanied by the PML MNA and parliamentary secretary for commerce, Mian Mazhar Ahmad Qureshi, PML district vice-president and ex-MNA Haji Malik Muhammad Aslam Katchela, ex-MPA Mian Muhammad Ilyas Qureshi, Mian Mazhar Ali Ranjha, younger brother of provincial minister for colonies Mian Manazir Ali Ranjha, PML MPA Maj Asghar Hayat Kalyar, ex-PPP MPA Mian Muhammad Aslam Midhiana and about 84 nazims and 97 naib nazims and 800 councilors of various union councils, according to a claim made by the Piracha group.

Talking to journalists later, Inam said he was the ruling party-backed candidate for the Sargodha district nazim.

He said that Sahibzada Nizamuddin, Sajjada Nasheen of Sial Sharif, and former senator Mehr Khuda Dad Khan Luk were also supporting him.

Supporters of PML MNA Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema, a strong contender for the coveted slot, admitted that the Piracha enjoyed the provincial chief minister’s backing.

Nevertheless, the Cheema group fielded four candidates for the top slot of Sargodha, the PPP and JI two each.

KHUSHAB: Three major groups led by Sumera Malik, the federal minister of state for tourism, Malik Khuda Baksh Tiwana and Awan alliance, fielded their candidates for district and tehsil nazims.

Sumera Malik, claiming government backing, tactfully separated former MNA Shuja Baloch from the Awan alliance and fielded him as the Zila Nazim candidate.

The Awan alliance fielded Shakir Bashir Awan while the Tiwana group is banking on Malik Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, ex-MNA.

For tehsil Khushab, Awan group fielded Ghulam Rasool Sangha, Tiwana group put up Malik Mukhtar Awan, ex-MPA, and Sumera Malik fielded Haroon Bandial.

In Noorpur Thal tehsil, Tiwana group has fielded Muhammad Amir Joya as tehsil Nazim candidate while Sumera Malik has fielded former tehsil nazim Said Rasool Salhal for the second term.

The Sumera group has the support of some influential families, including former provincial minister Saleh Muhammad Gunjial, Farooq Bandial and Sikandar Utra and Muhammad Hayat Utra besides Shuja Baloch.