DERA GHAZI KHAN, Sept 4: The rejection of nomination papers of three stalwarts in the district has inflicted a blow on the parties said to have the backing of the Musharraf government.

The casting away of papers of PML-QA’s Mir Badshah Qaisrani has reportedly broken the strong triangle of the party contestants.

Mir Badshah was contesting for PP-240, Buzdar Tumandar Fateh Muhammad Khan for PP-241 and Khwaja Sheraz for NA-171. These aspirants have recently joined the PML-QA. But with the rejection of nomination papers of Mir Qaisrani, the triangle of the PML-QA has shattered. Now Mir Qaisrani’s wife will contest for PP-240.

Another stalwart is Khwaja Daud of the Millat Party whose nomination papers have been rejected for NA-171 and PP-240. Now there will be contest among Khwaja Jamal Asghar (PPP), Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa (PML-N), Khawaja Sheraz (PML-QA) and Dr Ashraf Buzdar (MMA) for NA-171. Khwaja Sheraz and Amjad Farooq Khosa are the ‘powerful’ candidates.

Maqsood Khan Leghari (independent) is the third bigwig whose nomination papers are rejected for NA-172. This will only benefit Millat Party chief Farooq Khan Leghari. Maqsood Leghari had the support of the PML-QA.

A neck-to-neck contest is expected on PP-240 among Mrs Shamona Ambreen Qaisrani (PML-QA), Dilshad Shaheen (PPP), Maj Dr Ashraf Buzdar retired (MMA), Imam Bakhsh Khan Qaisrani (MP) and Muhammad Farooq Khetran (PML-N). However, Mrs Shamona Qaisrani has a little edge over other candidates. Religious parties have also a reasonable vote bank in this constituency.

In PP-241, the Millat Party has no candidate after the rejection of Khawaja Daud’s papers. The remaining candidates are Tumandar Fateh Muhammad Khan Buzdar (PML-QA), Abdul Salam Buzdar (MMA), Khwaja Mudassar (PPP), Tahir Buzdar (Ind), Ghulam Abbas (Ind) and Safdar Shah (PPP). The close contest is only expected between Tumandar Fateh Buzdar and Khwaja Mudassar.

In NA-172, the rejection of papers of Maqsood Khan Leghari (Ind) has paved way for MP chief Farooq Leghari. Besides him, the other contestants are Avais Khan Leghari (MP), son of Farooq Khan Leghari, Manzoor Ahmad Khan advocate (PPP), Rasheed Ahmad advocate (MMA), Malik Muhammad Mehboob Saqib (PML-QA), Saifuddin Khan Khosa (PML-N), Mir Shafi Khan Talpur (PML-N), Dr Saeed Buzdar (PPP), Muhammad Khan Leghari, son of Maqsood Leghari, and Mian Mustafa Quraishi (PML-QA). A tough contest is expected among Farooq Khan Leghari and candidates of PML-N and the PPP. In NA-173, Maqsood Leghari had withdrawn his papers.

A tough contest is likely among Irfan Khan Khosa (PPP), Saifuddin Khosa (PML-N) and Avais Khan Leghari (MP).

In PP-242, a close contest is expected among Irfan Khan Khosa (PPP), Abbas Khan Lond (PML-QA), Salahuddin Khosa and Javed Akhtar Lond (MP). Rest of the candidates are Khurram Khosa (PML-N), Sher Muhammad Khalol (PPP), Saleem Arif (PML-QA), Hafiz Ahmad Husain (MMA), Dr Allah Bakhsh (Ind), Aftab Thegani (MP) and Muhammad Azam (MMA).

A tough fight is on the cards among the candidates of PML(N), Independent (Maqsood Leghari’s son), Millat Party and PPP for PP-243.

In PP-244, a neck-to-neck contest is likely among the aspirants of PML-N, PPP and Millat Party.

This is an important seat in the district because it includes the DG Khan city. The Khosas of PML-N has the traditional claim over the seat. Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has always won this seat, but this time he is out of race due to the condition of graduation. Will his son Saif Khosa be able to attract voters is yet to be seen.

The PP-245 constituency is dominated by the Legharis. Among contestants are Farooq Khan Leghari (MP), Avais Khan Leghari (MP), Mohsin Leghari (MP), Shafi Talpur (PML-N), Azeem Khan Bughlani (PML-QA), Abdul Sattar (Ind), Mahmood Qadir (Ind), Jaafar Khan Leghari (MP), Yousaf Leghari (MP), Dr Saeed Buzdar (PPP), Muhammad Khan Leghari and Khalil Khan Birmani (PPP).

Although the Legharis have traditional claim over this seat, the PPP and PML-N can win this seat if they evolve a joint strategy against the Millat Party.

The PP-246 is also dominated by the Legharis. The other candidates are Jaafar Khan Leghari (MP), Avais Leghari, Saifuddin Khan Khosa (PML-N), Mehmood Qadir Leghari (Ind), Qazi Zulfiqar Husain (MMA), Yousaf Leghari (MP), Munawar Saqib (PML-QA), Husain Khan Leghari (Ind), Muhammad Jahangir (PPP), Mrs Rehana Masood (PPP) and Riyaz Aliani (PAT).