KARACHI: Election symbols allotted for NA-250 by-polls
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Jan 26: The Election Commission has allotted election symbols to the 13 candidates left in the field to contest the NA-250 National Assembly seat bye-election from Karachi. The constituency fell vacant with the demise of Abdul Sattar Afghani, who was elected in the 2002 general election on the MMA ticket.
On Thursday, which was the last date for withdrawal of candidature, two contestants, both belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League –Q, officially withdrew. They were Halim Siddiqui and Tariq Hasan Khan. However, all efforts of a joint opposition in the contest failed leaving both Salim Zia of PML-N and Nafees Siddiqui of Pakistan Peoples Party in the field besides other candidates.
The by-election on NA- 250 as well as PS-71 Dadu , which fell vacant with the death of Ghulam Nabi Shoro is scheduled for February 10.
The candidates left in the run were allotted election symbols. They are: Akhlaq Hussain of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (kite), Nafees Siddiqui of PPP(arrow), Salim Zia of PML-N(lion), Raja Arif Sultan Minhas of Jamaat-i-Islami (book), Javed Chattari (racket), Zulfiqar Qaimkhani (dove), Syed Rashid Ahmad (scooter), Ghulam Mohyuddin (car), Mehfoozyar Khan (basket), Amber Raza Nency (ring), Abdul Aziz (fan), Abdul Quadir Shaikh (lock) Fauzia Aijaz Khan (phone).
The candidates emerging as main contestants are Akhlaq Hussain of MQM, Nafees Siddiqui of PPP, Salim Zia of PML-N and Raja Arif Sultan Minhas of JI. Meanwhile, behind the scene efforts by the opposition parties continue to put up joint candidate against the MQM nominee, who is the sole candidate of the ruling coalition partners. If the opposition fails to reach a consensus, their chances of winning the seat seem remote.
At the time this report was filed, the PML-N was sticking to its claim on this seat as before the 2002 general elections their party candidates were elected to the National Assembly from this seat in 1993 and 1997. However, in the 2002 elections, the MMA candidate, Abdul Sattar Afghani, was elected securing 21,462 votes while the MQM candidate Begum Nasreen Jalil was second with 19,414 votes. PPP candidate Ikhtiar Baig was third with 12,105 votes while PML-N nominee Mamnoon Hussain secured 5,565 votes.
Although the Jamaat-i-Islami candidate Raja Minhas is in the field neither the party nor the MMA alliance seem enthusiastic to launch a campaign for its nominee. Mehfoozyar Khan belongs to the PML-Q but did not get the party’s support to stand in the election. The contest is between the MQM, PPP and PML-N, if the latter two remain in the field, the seat will most likely go to the MQM.
In the PS-71 Dadu constituency, the contest is likely between Dr Sikander Shoro of PPP, Rasool Bux of MQM and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman of PML-Q. With the entry of the MQM in Dadu politics, is considered a test to determine what role the party can play in rural politics.
