October 5, 2002	Saturday	Rajab 27, 1423

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NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, Oct 4: A triangular fight is expected between the PPP, National Alliance and PML(Q) candidates for the two national and five provincial assembly seats of Naushahro Feroze district.

In NA-211 (Naushahro Feroze and Moro talukas), a tough contest is likely between People’s Party Parliamentarians’ Zulfiqar Ali Behan, son of former MNA Haji Rahmatullah Behan, and former senator Dr Abdul Ghaffar Jatoi of the NA.

The other candidates for this seat include Ghulam Asghar Abbasi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Mohammad Akram Mughal of the Pakistan Muslim League(N).

Talks for seat adjustment between the NA, MQM and SDA are going on while PML(F) chief Pir Pagaro is supporting the PPP candidate.

The major candidates from NA-212 (Bhirya and Kandiaro talukas) include former deputy speaker, National Assembly, Zafar Ali Shah (PPP), Khalid Akhtar Jatoi (NA) and Ghulam Shabbir Lakho (PML-N).

A neck and neck contest between the PPP and NA candidates is expected as former caretaker prime minister, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, is campaigning for his nephew, Khalid Akhtar. However, Zafar Shah of the PPP has an edge over him.

In PS-19 (Naushahro Feroze city, Mithiani, Abran, Bhorti), Arif Mustafa Jatoi, son of Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (NA), is pitched against Qurban Ali Behan (PPP), Khan Mohammad Rajput (MQM), Sarfaraz Ahmed Qureshi (PML-N) and others.

It is an easy seat for the Jatois as most of voters seem to be in the favour of their contestant.

Ten candidates are contesting for PS-20 (Tharushah, Bhirya, Darbelo), including Abdul Haq Bhurt (PPP), Syed Ibrahim Shah (independent), former provincial minister Syed Murad Ali Shah (PML-Q), Tariq Mehmood Bhatti (PML-N), and Abdul Ghaffar Rajput (MQM).

A triangular fight is expected among Bhurt, Murad Shah and Ibrahim Shah.

Eleven candidates are contest the election from PS-21 (Halani, Kandiaro, Mehrabpur). Prominent among them are Syed Manzoor Ali Shah (PPP), Syed Sarfaraz Ali Shah (NA), Malik Ghulam Abbas (PML-N), and Liaquat Ali (MQM).

A lively fight is expected between the PPP and NA candidates but the chances of the victory of Manzoor Shah seem to be brighter as this constituency is a PPP stronghold.

In PS-22, Dr Abdul Sattar Rajpar (PPP) is confronting Syed Noor Mohammad Shah (PML-Q), the son of former minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and Khalid Mian Rajpar of the Sindh Rural Urban Alliance of Pervez Ali Shah.

A triangular fight is expected amongst the three contestants.

Eight candidates are contesting for the seat of PS-23 (Moro, New Jatoi, Dars), including Farhaduzzaman Jatoi (NA), Riaz Jamali (PPP), Khalid Akhtar Jatoi (independent), Mohammad Akram Mughal (PML-N), and Mohammad Bux Jamali (MQM).

A one to one contest between the former two is expected.