February 18, 2008	Monday	Safar 10, 1429

LAKKI MARWAT, Feb 17: As many as 49 candidates are in the run for one National Assembly and three provincial assembly seats in Lakki Marwat district.

Of them, 13 are in the run NA-27, while 13 each are battling to win PF-74, Lakki Marwat-I and PF-75, Lakki Marwat-II, and 10 are vying for PF-76, Lakki Marwat-III.

A tough contest is expected between former district nazim Humayun Saifullah Khan of PML-Q and former provincial minister Pir Mohammad Khalid Raza Zakori of MMA for the sole National Assembly seat.

Saifullah is supported by Anwar Kamal of PML-N while Mr Zakori has the support of local influential political personalities, like ex-MNAs Haji Mohammad Kabir Khan, Naseer Muhammad Khan and Maulana Amanullah Khan as well as elders of different clans of Marwat tribe.

Other prominent candidates who are in the field for NA-27 are Malik Haji Hamidullah Khan of ANP and an independent candidate Khan Bahadar Khan. At the end of the election campaign supporters and voters have swarmed into the hujras of the candidates to know about their duties they will have to perform on the polling day.

A total of 13 aspirants are in the run for PF-74. However, a neck-to-neck contest is expected between former federal minister Anwar Saifullah Khan and former MPA Zarfullah Khan Marwat. Both of them are contesting elections as independent candidates.

Sadruddin Khan Marwat of ANP, Ihsanullah Khan advocate of PPP and former Naurang tehsil nazim Anwar Hayat Khan are also in the field for PF-74.

Independent candidates for PF-75 and NA-27 Maulana Roohul Amin withdrew in favour of another independent candidate Malik Noor Salim Khan, who is also backed by Mr Zakori.

On the other side the workers of Pakistan People’s Party will vote for Anwar Saifullah Khan in PF-75 as the PPP has not fielded its own candidate in the constituency. Provincial general secretary of the PML-N Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat and his close rival Munawar Khan advocate are among ten other candidates who are fighting for PF-76.