October 7, 2002	Monday	Rajab 29, 1423

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HARIPUR, Oct 6: A tough contest is expected between the candidates of the PML-N and the PML-Q for the NA-19 seat.

Former NWFP chief minister Pir Sabir Shah of the PML-N, Omar Ayub Khan of the PML-Q, Sardar Abdul Rauf Khan advocate of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Ghulam Nabi Khan Tanoli advocate of the MMA, Mohammed Sheryar Khan of the PML-J, and two independent candidates, Abdul Hameed Khan and Syed Waqar Shah, are in the run for the lone National Assembly seat from the district.

The constituency comprises 37 union councils of Haripur Tehsil and seven in Ghazi Tehsil. There are 453,508 total registered voters including 217,137 women.

As Mr Gohar Ayub was disqualified under the graduation condition, he fielded his son Omar Ayub Khan on the PML-Q ticket.

Mr Omar is expected to have a tough contest with the Pir of Sirikot. Both the contenders are making claims about their success.

Mr Omar, being a representative of the third generation of the Ayub family, is banking on his father’s vote bank who never savoured defeat in his entire political career and same is the case with Pir Sabir Shah who had always been elected to the provincial assembly with majority votes since 1985.

Being considered as a loyal person to his party, Mr Shah also enjoys an edge of experience over his rival, who suffered a defeat at the very outset of his political career in the last local council elections.

Mr Shah claims the support of majority of the Barelvi sect voters and has successfully directed the support of former CEC Sardar Fakhar-i-Alam Khan, general Zaheerul Islam Abbasi (retired), Citizen Forum, and a strong anti-Tareens alliance of councillors, Nazimeen and lawyers, and Tahirkhelis’ of Qazipur in his favour.

Around 58,000 newly registered young voters, who will use their right to vote for the first time are expected to play a significant role in the future politics of the district.