TIMERGARA, Dec 25: Political parties’ nominees for the general elections have geared up campaigns and are wooing voters with the promises of job opportunities and development schemes, leaving aside their manifestoes.

The campaign is mostly being based on personal connections of candidates in their constituencies.

The ANP candidate for NA-34, Lower Dir, Mohammad Ayub Khan, told Dawn on Monday that supply of natural gas to the area was his top priority.

He said construction of the Gopalum irrigation channel was a longstanding demand of local people and he would make every effort to ensure the project’s implementation.

The PPP’s nominee for the seat, Malik Azmat Khan, said he would give top priority to solving the problem of unemployment.

He said lack of job opportunities had forced a large number of people of the district to go abroad to earn their livelihood.

The PML-Q’s candidates for NA-34 and PF-94, Javed Iqbal and Javed Akhtar, respectively, said providing gas and electricity, improving health and education facilities and industrialisation of the district topped their priorities’ list.

The JUI-F’s candidate for NA-34, Qazi Fazalullah, said he would select areas for the Annual Development Programme schemes on merit.

He said enforcement of Shariat was his top priority.