September 25, 2002	Wednesday	Rajab 17, 1423

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SHIKARPUR, Sept 24: Fifty one candidates are contesting for the two national and four provincial assembly seats of Shikarpur district.

Major contestants are Aftab Shahban Mirani (PPP) and Dr Ibrahim Jatoi (National Alliance) from NA-202 (Shikarpur-I), Ghous Bux Maher (PML-Q) and Agha Arslan (PPP) from NA-203 (Shikarpur-II), Siraj Durrani, PPP, and Zulfiqar Kumario (PML-Q) from PS-9 (Garhi Yasin), Imtiaz Shaikh (NA) and Agha Tariq Khan (PPP) from PS-11 (Shikarpur) and Junaid Soomro (PPP) from PS-12 (Khanpur).

A tough competition is expected between PPP candidate Aftab Shahban Mirani and NA nominee Dr Ibrahim Jatoi for the NA-202 seat.

Another interesting competition will take place for the PS-11 seat between Agha Tariq, PPP, and Imtiaz Shaikh, NA.

Junaid Soomro, PPP, is likely to give a tough time to Dr Ibrahim Jatoi, NA, on PS-12.

From NA-203 and PS-9 and 10, Ghous Bux Maher is generally supposed to be in a stronger position as he is a seasoned politician and more influential landlord while his rival candidates, Agha Arslan and Shabbir Maher are new faces in politics and they individually have no major support of the masses.

According to local observers, PPP candidate for NA-203 (Shikarpur-I) Aftab Shahban Mirani is in a stronger position.

No opinion can be formulated for the results of voting for PS-11 where the corner meetings of Imtiaz Shaikh as well as Agha Tariq are pulling big crowds.

Similarly in Garhi Yasin and Khanpur talukas, where Agha Siraj and Zulfiqar Kumario are running for PS-9 (Garhi Yasin) and Junaid Soomro and Dr Ibrahim Jatoi for PS-12 (Khanpur), position is not clear.

However, majority of the voter living in the urban areas is supporting the PPP candidates while in the rural areas, the voters are awaiting for directives from their tribal chiefs and landlords.

On the other hand, due to ongoing Maher-Jatoi, Shar- Jagirani, Detho-Jagirani, Essani-Qambrani, Essani-Brohi and other tribal disputes, the voters have been divided into tribal groups.

The election campaign is in full swing in the district. Corner meetings and individual contacts with the tribal chieftains, landlords and influential people are under way to get their support for the candidates.