Campaigning gathers pace ahead of Sept 6 polls

Political campaigning has picked up pace in the NWFP ahead of the September 6 presidential election, and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have stepped up efforts to muster support for their presidential candidates.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called on former interior minister Aftab Sherpao the head of his own faction of the PPP at his residence on Wednesday, and asked him to support PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari, the party's candidate for the presidential election. Anisa Zaib Tahirkheli and Sikandar Sherpao were also present.
Sherpao and Gilani told reporters after the meeting that Zardari had telephoned Sherpao but could not visit him because of security concerns.
Gilani said Sherpao was his “old friend” and the two had similar views on a host of issues.