KARACHI, Sept 27: A close contest is expected in Keamari Town between the PPP backed Awam Dost candidate and PML-Q’s nominee for the slot of town nazim, a survey shows.

Though the PPP has formally nominated former nazim of the town Zulfikar Yunis alias Zulfi for the post, another Awam Dost candidate, Arif Baloch, is also in the run.

The former town nazim confirmed that Mr Baloch enjoyed the support of a highly influential personality of the party.

Same is the case with the PML-Q nominees; one is a former MPA and chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Society, Hamayun Khan, and the other two are PML-Q candidates — Akhtar Pervaiz and Qadir Mandokhel.

According to Mr Hamayun Khan, he was officially nominated by the party’s high command for contesting the post of town nazim, but at the same time complained that “certain elements in the provincial government” were openly supporting his rival candidate.

Among the seven candidates also include Muttahida’s Shabir Ahmed Qureshi and an independent, Hakim Khan. But observers say the main contest will be between Awam Dost candidates Zulfikar Yunis and PML-Q’s Hamayun Khan.

While talking to this reporter, both candidates claim to have the support of a majority of the town’s councillors.

Observers say the outcome of the polls depends on independent councillors, who will play a decisive role in the third phase of the election.