December 26, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 15, 1428

ABBOTTABAD, Dec 25: Election activities are gaining momentum in the Abbottabad district as the candidates are running a busy schedule to reach out to voters and motivate them to cast their ballots.

Lawyers, civil society organisations and some political parties have also accelerated their campaign and are holding corner meetings to urge people to stay away from the election process.

The move is backed by the Omer Asghar Foundation, Terhik-i-Insaf, Hazara Qaumi Mahaz and disgruntled political workers. They have established an office in the city to run the campaign.

A banner put up outside the office is inscribed with slogans against the rulers and demands for the reinstatement of the pre-Nov 3 judiciary and withdrawal of curbs on the media. Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed plans to address a public meeting here against the election.

Five parties are contesting the election in the district—the PML-Q, PML-N, PPP, PPP-S, JUI-F and MQM.

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, who has visited Hazara twice recently, is planning to visit Abbottabad and Havelian next month, while no other party has planned any major activity.

The PML-N has fielded candidates for both seats of the National Assembly and all the five provincial assembly seats in the district. The PML-Q is contesting for the two NA seats and four provincial assembly seats. The party is supporting JUI-F candidate Sardar Mohammad Idrees for one seat of the NWFP Assembly.