KARACHI, Jan 2: The year 2004 turned out to be a mix of achievements and setbacks for most politicians and almost all major political parties in Sindh.

Among those who were favoured by their stars was Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim. Not only his dream of becoming chief executive of his native province came true, but he was also able to make his way into the office of Sindh PML chief.

Dr Arbab, in this game of power struggle, outwitted his main rival, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, a bureaucrat-turned-politician, despite the latter being more articulate and amenable, enjoying reputation of a 'political strategist', than Dr Arbab.

Even after managing to be elevated as chief minister, Dr Arbab would not rest; he intensified his efforts to come closer to the real power corridors. He got another opportunity when by-elections took place. He got his ancestral NA seat vacated by his brother to oblige Mr Shaukat Aziz who had been seeking a one such seat to become a legitimate prime minister.

This compelled all his rivals, including Mr Shaikh, to remain in a low-key, at least for the time being. The year also witnessed Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar, chief minister till the early months, disappearing from the political scene, unsung and unwept, as he failed to come to the expectations of the god fathers who were instrumental in driving him into the limelight.

The Pakistan People's Party leader, Asif Ali Zardari, emerged as 'the man of the year' in politics due to his unexpected release on bail after eight years of imprisonment and rousing reception he was accorded by his partymen elsewhere in the province.

Letting him off itself was enough to trigger off all sorts of speculations about a political change, though such things proved mere rumours till the end of 2004. It has also resulted in boosting the sagging moral of the PPP workers and would gear up the party machinery to prepare it for the upcoming challenge - the local bodies elections.

The year 2004 provided another opportunity to Syed Qaim Ali Shah, one of the old guards of PPP and a former chief minister, to lead the provincial set-up of the party. PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto relieved Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, who is leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, of this responsibility so that he could concentrate on parliamentary matters.

The PPP suffered a major set back during the last year when two of its dedicated leaders, MPA Abdullah Murad and Bilawal House spokesman Munawwar Suhrawardi, were killed.

For Muttahida Qaumi Movement, it was the year of gaining much-needed political clout and influence in bureaucracy as well as power brokers. Its nominee Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad succeeded in overcoming his political adversaries.

Unlike his predecessors, the governor took personal interest in public affairs and has been playing an active role in establishing writ of the coalition in the province, particularly urban areas.

The party has no say in the local government set-up which is responsible for development work under the new dispensation. The MQM had stayed away from the local bodies elections leaving the field wide open for its arch rivals who availed the opportunity to recognize themselves as public representatives.

The year 2004 witnessed tense relationship between the two tiers of governance as MQM dominates the provincial coalition and its major political rivals the local government set-up.

Controversies emerge off and on intermittently as the situation sometime is exploited by other elements, including the bureaucracy. Governance suffers because both the sides are in a strong position to counter the other.

While City Nazim Niamatullah Khan enjoys considerable powers in local government matters, Mr Waseem Akhtar is adviser to the chief minister on local government and has the powers and status of a minister.

In a major development during last year, the convener of the MQM's coordination committee, Dr Imran Farooq was relieved of his responsibilities by the party chief, Altaf Hussain.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal suffered a setback in the by-election on two national assembly and one provincial assembly seats in May. It also lost 12 of its activists who were gunned down by unknown armed men during the election- related violence.

However, the MMA as an alliance and its components in their individual capacity, have gained considerable grounds due to the massive development work being carried out in different cities through district governments.

It is obvious that the MMA would have the very performance to show to masses for seeking vote in the upcoming local bodies elections. The MQM does realize it and fears a tougher contest with its rivals than ever before.