Kairas and `MPA group` in alliance for Dinga top slots
By Waseem Ashraf Butt
2016-01-22
GUJRAT: The ruling PML-Nbacked `MPA group` and PPPbacl
According to sources, the decision to join hands was made in a meeting between the MPA Mian Tariq Mehmood of Dinga and PPP leader Nadeem Asghar Kaira, a former nazim of Kharian tehsil.
Leaders of the both groups have agreed on a formula to forge an alliance, the sources added.
Both the groups have confirmed the reports of forging an alliance.
According to the agreed upon formula, the MPA group will get the chairman Dinga municipal committee seat, whereas Kaira group will be given the vice-chairman slot, besides a seat reserved for labour councillor. The remain-ing reserved seats -three for women, one for minorities and one for youth -will go to MPA group.
The PML-N had withdrawn the party tickets after awarding these to the candidates belonging to the groups being led by MPA Mian Tariq and MNA Jaafar Iqbal, respectively, for 12 wards of the Dinga municipal committee. The MNA group had reportedly sought the ticket withdrawal, after which both groups contested the local poll independently.
Out of 12 wards, the MPA group had won six seats; five bagged by MNA group and one by the PPPbacked Kaira group.
NadeemKaira,whohasrecently won as councillor on PPP ticket ina ward of Lalamusa municipal committee and is likely to become the chairman of his home town, told Dawn that Mian Amjad Mahmood, the younger brother of the PML-N MPA Mian Tariq would be given the Dinga chairman slot, whereas Majid Butt of Kaira group would get the vice chairman seat.
He said the new alliance would have a total strength of seven in the house of 12 members. Sources said MNA group had offered the Kaira group`s lone councillor to be their candidate for the chairman slot with the support of their five members. In that case, numerical strength of both groups in the house would have been equaled,they said. But the Kaira group preferred the MPA group for forging an alliance, the sources added.
MNA Jaafar Iqbal has been the main rival of the Kairas in NA-106 constituency. Mr Iqbal had defeated the PPP stalwart Qamar Zaman Kaira in the same constituency in 2013 polls. The Kairas have joined hands with the MPA group keeping in view the future electoral politics in the constituency.
Both Mian Sher Afghan, who got elected as Jani Chal< union council chairman and Mian Tarig`s son Amjad are among the aspirants for the Gujrat district council chairman slot. However, the party is yet to make any decision in this regard.
