SWABI, Nov 2: With the elections fast approaching, political parties have started mass contact campaigns in the district to woo voters. The momentum is expected to heat up with the announcement of election date.

Candidates of different political parties have also started holding public meetings.

The Jamaat-i-Islami held a workers’ convention here on Sunday. It has already announced names of candidates for two National Assembly and six provincial assembly seats from Swabi district.Provincial JI Amir Sirajul Haq and other provincial leaders also participated in the convention. Jamaat leader Mohammad Ali announced that the convention was the beginning of the election campaign.

JI candidate for NA-12 Mohammad Usman promised that he, if elected, would ensure rapid development work in the district and priority would be given to the solution of people’s problems.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also visited Swabi to motivate voters.

Former NWFP education minister Maulana Fazal Ali held a public meeting in Marguhaz. He said: “I have built so many schools and colleges that the district will not be needing any educational institution for the next 200 years.”

He said if the JUI (F) came to power, it would initiate more development projects in the province and set examples for others. “The policies of the federal government have made the life of common man miserable,” he added.

Leaders of different religious parties said that they were not power hungry and blamed military rulers for the present crisis in the country.

Local PPP leaders claimed that party chairperson Benazir Bhutto remained a victim of establishment’s conspiracies because she was the only leader who wanted to share power with the people.

PPP district president Manfat Khan has called upon party workers to forge unity in their ranks and be prepared for the next elections.

PML (N) leaders said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had been deported to Saudi Arabia because he was not ready for a compromise with the military dictator, while other leaders sacrificed the country’s interest for their own interest.

Government’s defeat in the court had proved such conspiracies hatched against the PML (N), they added.

PML (N) district president Iftikhar Ahmad Khan said his party would again muster support of masses in the elections.

District Nazim Shahram Khan and other ruling PML leaders said that President Pervez Musharraf’s policies had strengthened the country economically.

Awami National Party district president Rehmanullah and general-secretary Jehan Zeb Khan said the ruling PML betrayed the masses and instead of resolving their problems, it created more complicated situation for them.

The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf is expected to field candidates for a National Assembly and a few provincial assembly seats from Swabi. It is quite ahead of other political parties in the mass contact campaign, but for victory it needs seat adjustment with other parties.

Observers are of the view that it may be difficult for religious parties to repeat the 2002 victory in the coming elections. They say that the ANP will be in a good position to win more seats.