HARIPUR, Sept 21: A tough contest is expected between Raja Faisal Zaman, son of former chief minister of NWFP Raja Sikandar Zaman, and Raja Sheeraz Haidar, son of Raja Eeraj Zaman, the scions of the same Gakhar family of Khanpur, on their native seat (PF-49, Haripur-I) during the October elections.

Maulana Abdul Haq of MMA and Sajjad Khan Jadoon (Independent) are the two other contestants who are also in the run for the same seat.

The family disputes between Raja Sikandar and his nephew Raja Eeraj Zaman, the sultan of Gakhars, had earlier cost the family dearly in the wake of loss of family’s 40-year old native seat which was won by Sardar Mushtaq of PML(N) by defeating Aamir Zaman, now the district Nazim Haripur, twice in the past.

The area, being rich in natural resources of forests and minerals, lacks the basic civic amenities, like electricity, healthcare and schooling facilities and potable water, despite the fact Raja Sikandar Zaman had always won the elections from this area.

This time round, both the contenders are new entrants in the field of politics and are pitted against each other for the second time after the last year’s local government elections when Sheeraz Haidar, who is paternal nephew to Raja Faisal, defeated him in the election of Nazim of Khanpur union council.

Mr Haider was given ticket by the PML(N) when Raja Sikandar Zaman reportedly turned down the same offer for his son apparently to avoid the pressure of the military regime on his elder son, Raja Aamir Zaman, who is the district Nazim of Haripur.

While Faisal opted to remain independent, although a top provincial government functionary reportedly pressed his father to join the PML(QA), but he refused the offer on the plea that his son defeated Gohar Ayub’s son Omar Ayub in the fight for district Nazim with the help of workers of different political parties.

He had pleaded that joining of the PML(QA) would be joining hands with Gohar, a traditional foe.

The campaign for Faisal is also being run by his father Raja Sikandar and elder brother Aamir. The district Nazim is also criticized by the opposition benches in the district council of utilizing over Rs60 million in this constituency from the KPP phase-II and KPP phase-II (A) to influence the elections.