HARIPUR: With their focus on next general elections the mainstream political parties have started homework for winning the hearts of voters here.

Haripur is one of the target constituencies of the country where both PML-N and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have been persistently focusing their energies apparently for mustering support of voters in the name of development.

PTI has two MPAs in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from Haripur; Faisal Zaman and Akbar Ayub Khan, who serves the cabinet as adviser to the chief minister. MPA Raja Faisal Zaman belongs to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and Gohar Nawaz to Qaumi Watan Party.

Local leadership of the ruling PTI, which claims to have brought funds to the tune of billions of rupees for development projects, is going to organise a couple of public meetings in Haripur on January 13 where Chief Minister Pervez Khattak would inaugurate some of the completed and new projects.

CM Khattak to address public meetings tomorrow, Nawaz to follow

Besides meeting different delegations and listening to the problems, he would unveil the plaques of completed portion of the building of Austrian-funded Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Model School for Boys, Mirpur, Govt Higher Secondary School No 1, building of now demolished Women and Children Hospital named City Hospital, building of DC office and some other projects.

Mr Khattak is also likely to announce some new development schemes for Haripur on this occasion.

The PML-N, which has one MNA and one MPA from the district, has also devised the counter plan by inviting deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif to Haripur.

He would address a public meeting in Khalabat Township, the hometown of PML-N MNA Babar Nawaz.

The party sources said that Mr Sharif would also discuss the reasons that led to his ouster from power for the third time since 1993. As part of his planned Tehreek-i-Adl he is likely to discuss factors responsible for his ouster from the PM House.

Although PML-N is yet to finalise its candidate for the National Assembly seat of the district, the former premier would set the tone for his party candidate for the next election.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited Haripur in the last week of December where he inaugurated the 47km Burhan-Shah Maqsood section of Hazara Motorway and followed the party line by relying on the development initiatives.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2018