MANSEHRA, Dec 8: The Pakistan People’s Party has fielded a woman candidate for a conservative constituency in Mansehra — NA-21 — against a hard-line cleric. Nomination papers of PPP’s Dr Shaheen Zameer and her rival candidates, Maulana Abdul Malik of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Zargul Khan of the PML (Q) and Nawabzada Salahuddin Saeed (independent), were cleared by the returning officer.

Zargul Khan won a provincial assembly seat from the tribal area of Kala Dhaka in the 2002 elections. Before the 2002 defeat against Maulana Malik, Salahuddin Saeed had been winning elections from the constituency.

The PPP has never won from the two constituencies of Mansehra — NA-20 and NA-21. Its present candidate Dr Shaheen had previously won a district councillor’s seat from the Oghi tehsil.

NA-21 comprises conservative areas of the Oghi tehsil, Tanawal and the tribal area of Kala Dhaka.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Shaheen said: “I will try to end the old tradition of landlords and bring this neglected area at a par with developed areas of the country. I’m here in the field to change the lot of the people who have been deprived of development and prosperity.”