September 10, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 2, 1423

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NAWABSHAH, Sept 9: The electioneering has begun at a slow pace throughout Nawabshah district for the October general election.

The candidates of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Pakistan Muslim League (Q), PML (N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Sindh Democratic Alliance, Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal and Sunni Tehrik have begun contacting the voters.

The PPP, PML (Q), and MQM enjoy considerable influence in many parts of the district.

There are two National Assembly seats and five Sindh assembly seats in the district.

Dr Azra Pechuho (PPP), sister of Asif Zardari, and Syed Zahid Hussain Shah (PML-Q), cousin of former MNA Shoukat Shah, are the main contenders for NA-213.

Both are new faces in the political arena. However, Shah began his political career by being elected Nazim of Khainshah union council.

Both of the candidates have begun their campaigns by arranging public meetings.

In other NA-214 (Nawabshah-II) constituency, the position of Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah (PPP), son of former MNA Syed Shabbir Shah, is strong as the nomination papers of his major rival, Mushtaq Ahmed Rahu (PML-Q), were rejected and he was replaced by his brother, Mumtaz Rahu, who is a non-political figure.

Rao Abdul Sami (MQM) and Tariq Masood Arain (PPP) are the main candidates for PS-24 seat and a tough contest is expected between them.

The MQM has a considerable vote bank in this constituency therefore Arain, a new face introduced by the PPP, will have to work hard.

Ali Nawaz Brohi (SDA) and Ali Ahmed Jalbani (PPP) are the main candidates for PS-25 seat.

The Brohis are very influential people in this area and Jalbani, who recently joined the PPP, will have to work hard to face his rival candidate.

Both the candidates have begun their campaigns by meeting the people in different villages.

Dr. Bahadur Khan Dahri, Dr Ashiq Dahri (SDA) and Syed Ali Ahmed Shah (PPP), who recently broke with the SDA, are the rival candidates for PS-26 seat.

The Dahris enjoy a considerable influence in this constituency and have begun their election campaign.

Ghulam Qadir Chandio, acting president, PPP, Nawabshah, is in a better position for PS-27 seat as the nomination papers of his main rival, Ghulam Sarwar Unnar (PML-Q) were rejected and he was replaced by his covering candidate, Abdul Hafiz Unnar.

Some intra-party differences may create some trouble for Chandio. Dr Ali Khan Jamali, despite efforts, failed to secure the PPP ticket for this seat.

Sources claim that for this reason the Jamalis are annoyed with the PPP and they may give a hard time to the party in this constituency.

Dr Bahadur Khan Dahri, former MPA and a SDA candidate for PS- 28 seat is in a very good position as this constituency is dominated by his clansmen.

Dahri is a cousin of Sindh education minister Khan Mohammad Dahri and it may prove to be a plus point for him.

Former senator Jam Tamachi Umer (PPP) is contesting against Dahri as his main rival.