LARKANA, Sept 10: Political activities for the general elections have yet to pick up momentum in Larkana, which is said to be the bastion of the PPP. The party seems to be pretty confused while putting up candidates on four national and eight provincial assembly seats.

The PPP is in a fix after the rejection of the nomination papers of its chairperson, Ms Benazir Bhutto, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro (provincial chief of the PPP), Nawab Shabir Ahmed Chandio (district president of the PPP), Mir Aamir Magsi, and Shafqat Hussain Unnar for various seats.

Though covering candidates are in the field but the PPP seems to be unsure about finalizing their names. Presently, only Shahid Bhutto (Benazir’s cousin), Mohammed Anwar Bhutto, Ghulam Sarwar Siyal, Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi, and Mohammed Ayaz Soomro have been given the cue to start work for NA-207 Larkana-IV, NA-204 Larkana-I (the traditional seat of Begum Nusrat Bhutto), PS-35 Larkana-I, PS-38 Larkana-IV, and PS-37 Larkana-III respectively.

Besides, the PPP is still indecisive regarding the seat allocations for PS-40 Larkana-VI, PS-41 Larkana-VII, PS-36 Larkana-II, and PS-42 Larkana-VIII. The situation will only become clear after the decision on the appeals.

While the PPP is facing a somewhat difficult situation, candidates of other political parties have jumped into the political fray.

The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) is fielding its candidates in interior Sindh, particularly in Larkana, for the first time. The nominations were announced after several meetings between MQM leaders and local activists of the party. And, of course, Altaf Hussain giving telephonic speeches.

It has announced its candidates from NA-204 Larkana-I, NA-207 Larkana-IV, PS-36 Larkana-II, PS-37 Larkana-III, and PS-40 Larkana-VI from where middle-class candidates are contesting, for eg Riaz Hussain Kamnasro, Ubaidullah Buledi, Abdul Wahab Wahocho (the district coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan), Aijaz Sariyo, and Abdul Rehman Junijo.

The Sindh Democratic Alliance (SDA) is making its presence felt in Larkana by pitting five candidates for one National Assembly seat and four provincial assembly seats. They are Syed Asghar Shah Rashdi (NA-206 Larkana-III), Mansoor Ahmed Shaikh (PS-36 Larkana-II), Saleem Akhtar (PS-41 Larkana-VII), and Faqeer Parvez Ahmed Paichoho (PS-42 Larkana-VIII).

Under the present conditions, the actual fight is expected in Ratodero and Dokri Talukas where Mumtaz Bhutto and Altaf Unnar wield power.

Even though the PPP is under pressure from within, it is still believed that it could win all the four National Assembly seats. However, it may loose two provincial assembly seats — one from Ratodero (PS-37) and one from Dokri (PS-41) — if its vote bank suffers.