DADU, Dec 12: Dadu district is witnessing a flurry of political activities these days as heads of three major political parties — PPP, PML-N and PML-Q — plan to address public meetings in the district to formally kick off electioneering drive in the district.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Khairpur Nathan Shah, 60 kilometres from here, today (Dec 13) to address a public gathering, followed by PML-Q president Chaudhry Shaujaat Hussain speaking at a gathering in Kakkar town, 25 kms from here, on Dec 16.

PPP co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari is also scheduled to visit Dadu, tentatively, on Dec 17.

His visit has been cancelled twice. It was scheduled for August but was put off for unexplained reasons and fixed for November but was postponed again to December.

The parties’ shows will set the tone of electioneering and their success or failure will in particular reveal how far people’s faith in PPP has suffered a blow after the passage of the Sindh People’s Local Government Act, 2012.

The PML-F, PML-N, PML-Q and nationalist parties have tried to cash in on people’s anger over the controversial law by holding large public gatherings in the district. The PPP has so far not made any move in Dadu and Jamshoro district in response to the opposition.

A fairly large number of heavyweights are arrayed against one another in the upcoming general election with former Sindh chief minister and PML-N leader Liaquat Ali Jatoi, PPP stalwart Pir Mazharul Haq and Sindh United Party chief Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah flexing muscles in their strongholds.

Speaking to Dawn, Liaquat Ali Jatoi claimed that the PML-N would win all seats of national and provincial assemblies with the support of nationalist parties. Thanks to PPP leaders’ failure to deliver, Dadu was no more their stronghold and the PML-N had wrested it away from their hands, he said.

But PPP MNA Rafique Ahmed Jamali did not agree to Jatoi. He said Dadu remained a PPP fort and the party would sweep all seats. PPP candidates would win on the basis of their performance, he said.

PPP MPA Imran Zaffar Leghari said the party had deep roots among the poor who would certainly vote its candidates to victory again and again.

SUP chairman and convener of the Sindh Bachayo Committee Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, who appears to be in a comfortable position in his hometown Sann, said that SUP candidates would contest election with the support of other nationalist parties and PML-N in Jamshoro district.

Jalal, a grandson of G.M. Syed, has led a drive against the SPLGA. He said the SUP candidates would put up a stiff fight against PPP candidates in Sehwan, Kotri and Thana Bula Khan.

Sardar Malik Asad Sikandar, a self-styled ‘King of Kohistan’ and Jamshoro district, who has always managed to win all seats of provincial and national assemblies, said that once again he and his supporters would not lose a single seat in Jamshoro. His sympathies would always rest with PPP, he added.

Head of PML-Q’s Sindh chapter, Haleem Adil Shaikh, told this correspondent over the phone that the party was organising a public meeting at Kakkar on Dec 16 to mobilise public opinion in its favour.

Recently the party held conventions in Hyderabad on Dec 7, Tando Allahyar (Dec 8) and Umerkot (Dec 9) where it had a considerable vote bank, he said.

PML-F district president Syed Mohammad Shah expressed the hope that people would support his party’s candidates in election because the PML-F had earned their respect by raising issues important to Sindh.

Senior PPP leader Pir Mazharul Haq has fielded his son Pir Mujeebul Haq for a provincial assembly seat. Pir Mazhar has managed to clinch victories in all elections in the past but this time round, it may prove mighty difficult for him to win people’s support for his son.

Engineer Aziz Junejo, son of well-known landlord and parliamentarian late Haji Amir Bux Junejo, resigned from the government job four months ago to launch his political career from the PPP’s platform.

Aziz Junejo and PPP MPA Imran Zaffar Leghari who had been foes in the past made peace last week and started political activities in Khairpur Nathan Shah but still it is still not clear who will be able to get the party’s ticket.

PML-N heavyweight Liaquat Ali Jatoi will contest election for national assembly seats from Dadu-Johi and Mehar-Khairpur Nathan Shah. His younger brother Sadaquat Ali Jatoi will be in the run on a PML-N ticket for a provincial assembly seat from Khairpur Nathan Shah and former zila nazim of Dadu, Karim Ali Jatoi, will contest for a provincial assembly seat from Mehar.

Engineer Syed Zaffar Ali Shah of the PML-N is also aspiring to contest election for a provincial assembly seat.

Syed Mohammad Shah who has changed parties more often and recently joined the PML-F will fight for a provincial assembly seat from Dadu. Another PML-F leader, tribal chief of Shahani clan Sardar Chakar Khan Shahani, will contest election for a provincial assembly from Sehwan and Johi.