HYDERABAD, Sept 8: The electioneering campaign for the October 2002 general election has gradually started gaining momentum in Hyderabad, the second biggest populated district of Sindh and ninth of the country.

The pace of the electioneering campaign has geared up after the visit of the chief of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani, and one of the leading leaders of the Grand National Alliance, Ajmal Khatak.

The pace accelerated further with the announcement of the contestants from the People’s Party Parliamentarians and the Muttahida Quami Movement of Pakistan on six National Assembly seats.

The prominent candidates who are contesting the elections from Hyderabad district include Makhdoom Mohammed Amin Fahim, chairman, People’s Party Parliamentarians, from NA-218 Hyderabad-I, Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, deputy coordinator, Muttahida Quami Movement, from NA-220 Hyderabad-III, Mir Haider Ali Khan Talpur, president, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (Sindh), from NA-218 Hyderabad-I and NA-222 Hyderabad-V, and Syed Shahabuddin Shah Hussaini of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) from NA-218 Hyderabad-I and NA-221 Hyderabad-IV.

An interesting contest could be witnessed on NA-223 Hyderabad-III, where three women candidates backed by the PPP, MQM and PML(N) respectively are contesting the elections.

The number of National Assembly seats of Hyderabad District have been increased from five to six.

With the absence of Benazir Bhutto (PPP) and Altaf Hussain (MQM), the candidates of other political parties are expected to gain an advantage.

According to the new delimitation, NA-219 Hyderabad-II, which was the previous constituency of NA-169 Hyderabad-III, comprises the areas of Latifabad Taluka. The constituency has remained the stronghold of the MQM.

For the October 2002 general elections, the MQM has fielded Prof Khalid Wahab, while Mushtaque Ahmed of the MMA, Dr Saleem Haider of the Mohajir Ittehad Tehrik, Choudhry Bashir Ahmed of the PPP, and Ahmed Ali Khan Naghar of the PTI are also contesting the polls.

NA-220 Hyderabad-III, previously NA-168 Hyderabad-II, comprises Taluka Hyderabad City.

The deputy coordinator, Muttahida Quami Movement, Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, is contesting the polls along with Sahibzada Abdul Khair Mohammed Zubair of the MMA, Mohammed Irfan Qureshi of the PPP, and Mazhar-ul-Haq of the PML-Q.

NA-221 Hyderabad-IV is a newly-created National Assembly constituency and comprises Hyderabad City, Latifabad, Qasimabad, and the rural Talukas of Hyderabad District.

A total of 13 candidates are contesting the elections for this NA seat. Prominent among them are Syed Amir Ali Shah Jamote of the PPP, Syed Shahabuddin Shah of the PML(Q), Qamar Shahbaz of the (MQM), Dost Mohammed Channa of the Labour Party Pakistan, Maula Bux Mashori of the PPP-SB, and a woman candidate, Badrun Nisa.

NA-222 Hyderabad-V, previously NA-170 Hyderabad-IV, comprising Tando Mohammed Khan Taluka seems to be one of the secured seats of the PPP.

Prominent among those who are contesting the elections for this seat are Syed Naved Qamar of the PPP, Mir Haider Ali Khan Talpur of the PTI, Saud Ahmed Farooqui of the PML-Q, Asadullah Baloch of the MQM, and Qadeer Khan Gaddi of the PML-N.

NA-223 Hyderabad-VI, which was previously NA-171 Hyderabad-V, comprises Tando Allahyar Taluka.

Prominent among those who are contesting the elections for this seat are Shamshad Sattar Bachani (wife of Abdul Sattar Bachani) of the PPP, Mrs Adeeba Gul (who is the daughter of the president, PML-N, Hyderabad District) of the PML-N, Allah Bux Magsi, Sameena Khanzada of the MQM, and Dilshad Ahmed of the PML-Q.—APP