Contest tough but Legharis have an edge in DG Khan From Hasnain Qaisrani DERA GHAZI KHAN: As different PML-N groups are in the contest to capture maximum number of seats in the local government elections, the Legharis are seemingly in front as they have fielded candidates for over 50 per cent seats in the district. On the other hand, MNA Hafiz Abdul Kareem could not organise his group to that level against the powerful Legharis, as the voters are taking unprecedented interest in the elections scheduled for December 5. A tough contest is expected in most of the union councils with the main fight expected between the PML-N groups and the PTI. Despite being the members of same party, both the major groups are like archrivals, especially in Dera Ghazi Khan tehsil. A detailed analysis shows that the Legharis have an edge over Hafiz Kareem in Dera Ghazi Khan and Kot Chutta tehsils. Hafiz Kareem, who claims enjoying healthy relations with the Sharif brothers and particularly Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is concentrating his maximum efforts on controlling development projects as well as transfer/posting of the top district administration. But his authority is being challenged by the Legharis - National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari and MPA Sardar Jamal Khan Leghari. The differences between the two groups are not new, but mainly date back to the 2008 general elections when Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari was elected as MNA on the PML-Q ticket by defeating Hafiz Kareem of PML-N. It was a tough period for the PML-N and Hafiz Kareem feels proud for standing against the powerful Legharis who were an important high profile part of PML-Q. In 2013, Hafiz Kareem was the winner after a neck and neck contest for the National Assembly seat with Jamal Leghari who was an independent. Later in a surprising move, the Legharis and their group - Awais, Jamal, Qadir Khan Leghari, Sardar Javeed Akhtar Lund and Syed Abdul Aleem Shah joined the PML-N saying good bye to the PTI. The Leghari camp believes that NA-172 is their native constituency while their rival group has been promoted. On their insistence, all the union councils falling under PP-245 have also been left open. This act demoralised the associates of Hafiz Kareem who had pleaded that the party tickets for the union council chairmen should be awarded to the nominees of his group as PP-245 falls under his National Assembly constituency, but his argument could not get the attention of PML-N leadership. At a time when all the big guns of the Leghari group are gathered at a single platform working actively for their candidates, Hafiz Kareem is being supported by MPA Syed Abdul Aleem Shah having strong pockets in PP-244 which covers the Dera Ghazi Khan city. According to reports, Aleem Shah too had to face strong criticism by Legharis over the distribution of party tickets. As a result, he opted to part ways with Legharis and join Hafiz Kareem’s camp.
