Peshawar, March 30: Pakistani actress Musarrat Shaheen, known for her raunchy dances in Pashto movies, will be contesting against Maulana Fazlur Rahman from Dera Ismail Khan constituency for the National Assembly.
Musarrat's presence in the electoral contest is bound to lend colour to the campaign.
Pakistani media reported that Musarrat may face trouble from rabid extremists and sectarian fundamentalists, if she ventured out to campaign in a Wild West place like Dera Ismail Khan, scene of several bomb blasts in the recent past.
Dera Ismail Khan is close to South Waziristan, where TTP (Tehreek Taliban Pakistan) is ruling the roost.
The film actress has floated a fledgling political party named Pakistan Musawwat Party. Pakistani newspapers say, her celluloid career is almost finished and that is why she has entered politics.
Musarrat had contested election against Jamiat Ulema Islam (Fazlur) head Maulana Fazlur Rahman in the past too, but lost miserably.
Another likely candidate from Dera Ismail Khan are National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, who belongs to the PPP, who had defeated Maulana Fazlur Rahman in the 2008 general election.
Writes Dawn, Karachi: "Beyond her more evident ability to entertain, also deserving of some notice is the alternative statement in Musarrat Shaheen's candidacy. It is possible to view her as asserting her right as a woman, as a woman actor, to be an active member of a system, fighting in an area which is dominated by men beholden to strict traditions, and where the threat of militants disrupting the polls is considerable. She could do a better job if she is able to prove that hers is a serious attempt at participation, and not just as a performer required by the script to embarrass someone."
