NAWABSHAH, Sept 20: A tough contest is expected between PPP-backed Awam Dost Panel and PML-backed Nawabshah Awami Ittehad for the post of district nazim after the PML-F announced its support to the latter on Monday. The ADP was in a strong position after the PML-F backed Faqir Dost Panel announced its support to it some eight days back at a press conference in Nawabshah.

The ADP’s position weakened when the FDP announced its support to the NAI in presence of Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim in Karachi.

Sikandar Hayat Rind, one of the organizers of the functional league in Nawabshah told Dawn on Tuesday that the decision was made in the best interest of the district.

He said Syed Sadaruddin Shah and the party had presented some demands which would be reviewed by the PML.

The NAI candidate for the nazim slot is Khan Mohammad Dahri and PPP candidate will be most probably Faryal Talpur as the ADP has not so far made official announcement of their candidate.

The ADP was in a winning position in the Daur taluka as they grabbed 11 nazim seats out of 14.

In Daulatpur taluka, the NAI was in winning position as they won nine out of 12 seats.

There is a tough contest expected in the Nawabshah taluka between the ADP and the MQM-backed Haq Parast Group (HPG). The ADP won eight seats and remaining five were gained by the HPG.

In Sakrand taluka, neck-to-neck fight was expected between the ADP and the NAI as the ADP won five seats and the NAI also won five seats whereas one independent candidate won and one seat was secured by the Nawabshah United Front.

All the groups –- the ADP and pro-government groups, the NAI and the HPG — were claiming of having a clear majority in the district.