MANSEHRA, Dec 28: After joining Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, former provincial minister Syed Akhtar Shah is likely to contest election against his brother and Pakistan People’s Party provincial minister Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah from the PK-54 Mansehra constituency.

Akhtar Shah had announced to join PML-N after meeting the party chief and former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, in Raiwind on Thursday.

“I am pleased to join PML-N. If the party grants me the ticket for my native provincial assembly’s constituency (PK-54), I will face my brother (Syed Ahmad Shah) in the coming elections,” he told Dawn on Friday.

Mr Shah said he was bound to follow the party decisions on the award of tickets but he was certain about his victory if the leadership fielded him from his constituency in the next elections.

“I have the backing of the majority of the people in my constituency that can help me win the elections,” he said.

Earlier this month, ex-Senator Syed Muzamil Shah had declared younger son Syed Ahmad Shah his political successor.

When contacted, minister Syed Ahmad Shah said his political rivals wanted to break his father’s strong group, which had been active since the creation of the country, but they would not succeed.

“Our political rivals are pitching my brother Akhtar Shah against me in the coming elections but whosoever will come in our way will face defeat as we have been serving the people in politics for long,” said Mr Shah.

He said his father had been a political worker of Pakistan People’s Party since the party’s foundation.

“I, too, am following the legacy of my father and am active in PPP as a worker,” he said.