SUKKUR, Oct 1: The electioneering in Jacobabad is more lively as lack of political interest is compensated there by efforts of different tribes to maintain their hegemony on their areas through the electoral victory of their chieftains.

The tribal temperament of this district has also led to a tense situation in a particular constituency of the National Assembly, where violence is feared if a powerful candidate tried to rig the election.

The graduation condition has ousted several local heavyweights — like Mehran Khan Bijarani, Babul Khan Jakhrani, Sardar Sher Mohammad Bijarani and Mir Hakim Khan Sundrani — from the election arena. However, most of them have been replaced by their sons and close relatives.

Out of the three National Assembly and six Sindh Assembly constituencies of the district, the most important contest is in NA-208 (Jacobabad), where a tough contest is expected between former National Assembly speaker Illahi Bux Soomro of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and Aijaz Jakhrani of the People’s Party Parliamentarians.

Since the PPP has put its full weight on this seat, it will be a tough fight for Soomro, as compared to the past when he grabbed this seat easily.

However, the recent transfer of the DCO, on the obvious wish of Soomro, makes observers believe that he may get clandestine official support.

Apart from different tribes, who are lending support to the one or the other candidate, the local sizable Hindu community is divided into two groups. However, most of the minority voters are backing Soomro because they see the Jakhranis behind the murder of a leading figure of their community, Sadham Chawla.

In NA-209 (Jacobabad-Kandhkot), former federal minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani of the PPP is facing Raja Abdul Rahim Khoso, the son of the sitting Sindh Minister Muqeem Khan Khoso, who holds the PML-Q ticket.

In the elections for the district Nazim, Hazar’s son Shabbeer Bijarani had defeated Muqeem. Through the general elections, Rahim is seeking a revenge for his father’s defeat. Therefore there would be an interesting contest between the two, the outcome of which can not be predicted.

In NA-210 (Kashmor-Kandhkot), the National Alliance has fielded a heavyweight politician, Saleem Jan Mazari, against Mir Imran Khan Bijarani of the PPP.

In the last election, Hazar had been instrumental in the defeat of Imran by helping Saleem. But under the new delimitation, Hazar’s area, including Karampur and Ghouspur, has been excluded from the constituency.

The duel between the Mazari and the Bijaranis is likely to be an interesting one.

The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal candidate, Abdul Hafeez Bijarani, is expecting to get the votes of the Shar, Bhutto and Sangi communities.

The PML-N has fielded Mohammad Murad Chachar and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Abdul Rauf Khoso, but both of them are seen as too weak candidates.

In PS-13 (Garhi Khairo), Raja Rahim Khoso of the PML-Q is facing Mir Manzoor Panhwer of the PPP.

There is a general feeling in the constituency that there will be an interesting fight between the two if official support does not rescue Rahim.

In PS-14 (Jacobabad city), there is a straight fight between Nasir Khan Khoso of the PPP and Raja Rahim Khoso of the PML-Q.

The less powerful candidates include Raja Khan Jakhrani of the MMA, Nadeem Qureshi of the PPP-SB, and Akram Abro.

A straight fight is also expected in PS-15 (Thul) between Dr Sohrab Sarki of the PPP and Tahir Hussain Khoso of the Sindh Democratic Alliance.

In PS-16 (Kandhkot-Tangwani) the major candidates are Mehboob Ali Bijarani of the PPP and Nazir Ahmed Khoso of the MMA.

In PS-17 (Kandhkot), PPP nominee Iqbal Sundrani is pitched against MMA candidate Ghulam Abid Sundrani and independent aspirant Raja Ghous Bux Bijarani.

The candidates from PS-18 (Kashmor) include Saleem Jan Mazari of the NA, Ghalib Hussain Dombki of the PPP, Hafiz Nasrullah of the MMA and Abdul Rauf Khoso of the MQM.