MANSEHRA, June 16: With the announcement of election schedule for by-election on the vacant post of district Nazim, political activities in the Mansehra district have started gaining momentum.
The seat of district Nazim had fallen vacant after the election of former district Nazim Azam Khan Swati to the upper house of parliament, while the slot of district Naib Nazim became vacant after the then Naib Nazim Shahzada Gustasap Khan was elected member of the NWFP Assembly.
Leaders of different political parties and heads of pressure groups are busy in holding meetings to develop a consensus on fielding joint candidates.
Political analysts here said the money factor and horse trading to influence voters could not be ruled out as it had been alleged in the election of district Nazim in 2001.
Political circles here believe by-election for the slot of district Nazim will be a test case for Chief Minister Akram Durrani as interference in the election from any side would put him in the hot waters.
As far as money factor and horse trading is concerned, the opponents of former district Nazim Azam Khan Swati had been accusing him of using wealth during the election of district Nazim in 2001.
Once a strong critic of religious parties, Mr Swati has now joined the JUI with whose blessings he has become a member of the Senate.
It is said that Mr Swati is trying to field a candidate who can protect his interests in the local bodies setup.
Mr Swati is likely to face Gulfam Khan, who hails from Pakhal valley of Mansehra tehsil.
According to sources, Gulfam Khan would either himself contest or would support some other candidate. The group headed by Azam Khan Swati and Shahzada Gustasap Khan, which had defeated the group of PML-Q stalwart Sardar Mohammad Yousuf in the local bodies election of 2001, has been shattered.
Mr Swati and Mr Gustasap are now at loggerheads as the differences between them following the October elections and Senate elections have reached a point of no return.
The electoral college for election of the district Nazim consists of over 1,100 Nazims, Naib Nazims and councillors.
Sardar Mohammad Yousuf, the PML-Q general secretary of the NWFP chapter, remains the only figure who, having a support of about 400 votes, can still play a decisive role in the election of the district Nazim.
The other key players are former senators Syed Qasim Shah and Syed Muzamil Shah from Kaghan valley, PML-Q MPA Zar Gul Khan from the tribal belt of Kala Dhaka, MPA Wajeeuz Zaman Khan and Salahuddin Tirmizi.
Azam Swati has three choices before him: his cousin a former MPA Faiz Mohammad Khan, former provincial minister Syed Akhtar Hussain Shah and the JUI leader Mufti Kifayatullah.
Faiz Mohammad Khan has however refused to contest in a meeting held here on Sunday at the new circuit house.
According to sources close to Sardar Yousuf, he tried to convince Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi, a Muslim Leaguer and a prominent social and political figure of the area to contest the election for the slot of district Nazim but Mr Qureshi refused. Ultimately, Sardar Yousuf, according to sources, has decided to contest himself.
Shahzada Gustasap Khan is apparently waiting for the right moment and the right choice. He enjoys cordial relations with all the political parties and the heads of pressure groups except Senator Azam Swati and Mufti Kifayatullah of the JUI.
Former senator Syed Qasim Shah is also busy in holding meetings with his friends and people from all walks of life and reminding them of his services in his capacity as chairman of the district council Mansehra and later as a provincial and federal minister.
The polling day, July 14, would show as to how the 1,100 voters use their vote to elect the new district Nazim for 1.4 million people who have always been deceived by their leaders.