DERA GHAZI KHAN City News

LG elections
Grouping in PML-N may benefit PTI in DG Khan
From Hasnain Qaisrani
DERA GHAZI KHAN: The political activities are gaining momentum after submission of nomination papers for the Local Government elections in the district scheduled to be held in the third phase on December 3.
The ruling party – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz - is facing difficulties in selecting candidates due to grouping and differences among its parliamentarians. The PML-N has split into three groups - MNA Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari group, MNA Hafiz Abdul Kareem group and MNA Sardar Muhammad Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa group - in the district. The PML-N is facing groupings since veteran politician Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has been cornered after his 35-year affiliation with the party.
The three groups have fielded their own candidates in various union councils, which could give an edge to the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf candidates, particularly in the urban UCs.
Besides this, estranged PML-N leader Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa and his son former Punjab chief minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa have also fielded their own candidates in those union councils where they have influence.
PTI leaders Sardar Muhammad Saiful Din Khan Khosa, the elder son of Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, MPA Sardar Ahmad Ali Dareshak and former MNA Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood are busy campaigning for the party candidates while PTI women wing leader Dr Shaheena Najeeb Khosa is also playing a vibrant and active role by holding corner meetings and door-to-door campaign.
This time, the Pakistan People’s Party is on the worst end in the district as all the big guns have left it and joined the PTI. The PPP leaders, who have joined the PTI, include former MNAs Sardar Muhammad Saiful Din khan Khosa and Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood.
According to the history of the Local Government elections in the district, most of the votes are polled on caste basis. Therefore, almost all the major tribes and clans have fielded their candidates in the elections. The major tribes include Khosa, Buzdar, Leghari, Qaisrani, Nutkani, Meerani, Khaitran, Pitafi, Jatoi and Chandia.
It is learnt that National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman MNA Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari along with MPA Sardar Muhammad Jamal Khan Leghari held a meeting Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif some days ago and informed him about the issues being faced by the PML-N in distribution of tickets due to grouping in the party.