MANSEHRA, Sept 8: Although various groups are engaged in hectic political activities in Mansehra district, none of them has so far announced its candidates for the offices of district and tehsil nazims. It appears that all the groups and political parties have decided not to announce any name till the filing of nomination papers. It is, however, believed that the central deputy general secretary of the ruling PML, Sardar Mohammad Yousaf, would be the candidate for the slot of district nazim from the platform of the Muttahidda Awami Mahaz (MAM).

The MAM formed by leaders of opposition in the NWFP assembly, Shahzada Mohammad Gustasap Khan, Sardar Mohammad Yousaf and MPA Wajeeuz Zaman Khan, won in most of the union councils of the district during the local government elections.

The Muttahidda Islami Mahaz (MIM), formed by the JUI-F senators Mohammad Azam Khan Swati, Syed Hidayatullah Shah and the MMA’s spokesman Mufti Kifayatullah, could win only one of the total 59 union councils of the district.

After notification of results of the second phase of the local government elections, Senator Mohammad Azam Khan Swati left the MIM and made seat adjustment with the Jamaat-i-Islami.

In this way he succeeded in bringing forward his cousin and former MPA Faiz Mohammad Khan as a candidate for district nazim slot against the MAM candidate. It is learnt that Azam Khan had also offered the slot of Mansehra tehsil nazim to former district naib nazim Syed Abdul Ber Shah Sherazi of JI.

Apparently former district nazim Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah received actual set-back in the entire game because he had been technically knocked out of the arena by the Qasim Shah group.

Both the former senators from Kaghan valley are arch political rivals in Mansehra and have always been busy in letting down each other.

Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah, who is son of Syed Muzamil Shah, had won by-election on district nazim seat against Syed Qasim Shah with the support of Sardar Mohammad Yousaf. Ahmad Hussain Shah was also a contestant from the MAM platform.

In a dramatic move, the central leadership of the PML-Q nominated MPA Syed Mazhar Ali Qasim, son of Syed Qasim Shah, for the slot of district nazim and the decision was also learnt to be endorsed by the NWFP chief minister.

According to sources, Sardar Mohammad Yousaf approached Chaudary Shujahat Hussain and demanded of him to revise the decision regarding nomination of Mazhar Qasim.

It is learnt that Chaudary Shujahat had agreed to the request on the condition that Sardar Yousaf himself would be the candidate for the post of district nazim. It left no room for Ahmad Hussain Shah to contest for a second term.

It is, however, still not clear whether Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah would remain loyal to Sardar Mohammad Yousaf or quit the MAM to contest in his personal capacity.

The group of Syed Qasim Shah, on the other hand is learnt to have made a seat adjustment with Sardar Mohammad Yousaf. According to the sources, the group would support Sardar Yousaf in his election for the office of district nazim and in return Sardar Yousaf would extend full support to the candidate of Qasim Shah group in the election of Balakot tehsil nazim.

The MAM is likely to field Shehzada Mohammad Kashif Khan, brother of Shahzada Mohammad Gustasap Khan, or his cousin Khurram Hanif Khan, son of former federal minister late Mohammad Hanif Khan, for the office of Mansehra tehsil nazim.

However, the real player in the game, Shahzada Mohammad Gustasap Khan, is on official tour to Australia, and it is still not clear as to who would be the candidate of his choice for the slot of Mansehra tehsil nazim from MAM platform.

Asif Akbar Khan, a former chairman of defunct Municipal Committee Mansehra and president of the PPPP in the district, newly elected nazim of the union council Mansehra City-2 Babar Salim Khan and former Mansehra tehsil nazim Nawabzada Mohammad Farooq Khan are among other aspirants for the office of Mansehra tehsil nazim.

Among them, Asif Akbar Khan is a potential candidate who has been running his campaign after announcement of the election results. It is believed that the real contest for the slot of Mansehra tehsil nazim would be between Asif Akbar Khan and the candidate to be nominated by MAM.

The JI has won in two union councils of Ogi tehsil where Hafiz Mohammad Younis of JI was to be nominated for the slot of Ogi tehsil nazim.

However, after seat adjustment with Senator Mohammad Azam Khan Swati, the JI has been offered candidature for Mansehra tehsil council. It is believed that Laiq Mohammad Khan, former nazim of Ogi tehsil and brother of Azam Khan, would be nominated for the slot of Ogi tehsil nazim by Mohammad Aam Khan Swati.

The MAM is likely to nominate Ali Mohammad Tanoli, a former member of Mansehra district council, or former MPA Zarin Gul Khan, for the slot of Ogi tehsil nazim.