MINGORA, July 7: The politicians have launched a mass contact campaign in the Malakand division in connection with the coming election. The leaders of various parties have been paying frequent visits to parts of the Malakand division and trying to mobilize the masses.

Imran Khan, chief of the Pakistan Tehrik Insaf (PTI); Sirajul Haq, Syed Munawwar Hasan of the Jamaat Islami; Aftab Sherpao, chief of his own faction of Pakistan people’s Party, Maulana Attaur Rehman, leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, are among those who visited the area and held public meetings recently.

The PTI chief spent about four days in Swat and visited almost all the tehsils where he addressed different gatherings. Some political workers, including Saeed Khan of Awami National Party, Ikramullah of Pakistan Muslim League; Hazrat Rehman, General Secretary of the Swat Traders Federation (STF), also announced rejoining the PTI during Imran Khan’s visit.

Imran Khan is considering contesting National Assembly elections from Swat. His visit was a part of his election campaign and he is scheduled to visit the area again in the last week of July.

The JUI leaders used the occasion to criticize the government’s policies. They demanded of the government to appoint a new chief election commissioner and ensure fair and impartial elections, otherwise, they threatened, the JUI would boycott the polls.

They said the government was following the policies of the Zionist forces and trying to suppress the Islamic forces at all costs, which would cause many problems for the government.

They also expressed their dissatisfaction over the performance of the local government and termed the system against the Constitution.

The JI leaders always maintained a regular contact with the people and hold meetings in all the areas. It’s leaders are hopeful about the success of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) in the next elections. Although the MMA is a conglomerate of different parties which have their own point of view about the government policies, they share same opinion about the American forces presence in Afghanistan and the government’s policy about Madaris.

The Sherpao’s visit to the Malakand division was brief, but effective in all respects. He visited the Malakand agency, Swat and Dir Lower with very short programmes, but some well-known personalities joined his party.

During Sherpao’s visit Raziq Jan advocate of Dargai, Haji Hanan of Kharkai, Ghani-ur-Rehman, former member district council, Zahir Shah Khan of Dheri Julagram and Rashid Ali Khan of Dheri Malakand Agency joined his party. The former two leaders resigned from the ANP.

In Dir Lower Daud Said, former member district council, joined hands with Sherpao and expressed confidence in his leadership. Sherpao in his speeches raised local issues, which drew the people attention. The popularity of the Sherpao group is increasing day by day as the majority of the former elected members of the PPP are his supporters.