Makhdoom Ashfaq Ahmad in a meeting with Chief Minister Punjab. PHOTO: EXPRESS
BAHAWALPUR: The Muslim League-Nawaz has nominated Makhdoom Ashfaq Ahmad as candidate for Rahim Yar Khan district council chairman.
Ahmad is a former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) minister for environment and a cousin of former federal minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin. He recently joined the PML-N.
This announcement was made by PML-N MNA Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar during a press conference at Mianwali Qureshian.
“I have returned to Rahim Yar Khan after holding a meeting with the chief minister in Lahore along with Ashfaq Ahmad. During the meeting, the political situation in Rahim Yar Khan was discussed.
The CM has given a green signal for the nomination of Makhdoom Ashfaq Ahmad as district council chairman,” he said.
He said it was for the first time that somebody from Mianwali Qureshian had asked major political families of Rahim Yar Khan for their support.
“I am glad that all of them have agreed with me. Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood’s decision to nominate his own son, Makhdoom Ali Mehmood, for the district council chairmanship is his personal decision, not PPP policy. Mehmood is trying to run the party as his household,” he said.
To a question, he said that Ahmad would be elected on a reserved seat. “Besides, several union council chairmen have also offered to vacate their seats for him,” he said.
Bakhtiar said that the decision regarding the vice chairman would be taken later. “We will take the decision after consulting provincial and National Assembly members from the area,” he said.
“In Rahim Yar Khan district, the PPP has 63 seats. The PML-N has won 43 seats and independent candidates 31. Two seats were won by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Out of the 31 independent candidates, 28 have joined the PML-N,” he said.
Bakhtiar said that Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood’s decision to nominate his son for the chairman’s seat had alienated several PPP UC chairmen. “A lot of PPP chairmen are unhappy with their leaders. The PPP has no future,” he said.
He said that Ahmad had the support of Makhdoom Shahabuddin group’s eight UC chairmen.
Bakhtiar said consultations were underway for the vice chairman’s slot. “Channels of communication are never closed in politics,” he said.
“If the PPP supports the PML-N candidate, then the chairman’s election can be completed by consensus,” he said.
Talking to reporters, Ahmad said that the chief minister had placed his confidence in him by nominating him for the seat of district council chairman. “If I am elected, I will serve the people throughout the district regardless of their political affiliation,” he said.
Sardar Ahmad Khan Lundh, Haji Mushtaq Ahmad and PML-N Youth Wing district information secretary Faisal Khan Korai were also present.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2016.
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