HYDERABAD: In view of recent political developments in Sindh, interesting and close contests are a foregone conclusion on polling day. Factors such as the emergence of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) claiming its stakes with the help of ‘electables’ have indeed made the July 25 polls an exciting affair.

Upper Sindh’s district Ghotki is going to stage various fights. The house of Mahar is divided for the first time in the last 70 years as one Mahar is taking on another Mahar in addition to the PPP on various seats. Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, who has decided to contest on three seats — two from Ghotki and one from Sukkur district — is taking on his brother Ali Nawaz Khan, alias Raja Mahar, of the PPP on PS-20 of Ghotki as well as Abdul Bari Pitafi on PS-19.

Former PPP Sindh minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo quit the PPP to get a ticket from the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and faces Ali Nawaz Khan Mahar on PS-21. Ali Gohar Mahar — a leading light of the GDA — has decided to face PPP’s Jam Ikramullah Dharejo, Saif’s brother, on PS-22 of Sukkur also. Sukkur would witness an exciting poll contest between Mohammad Ali Shaikh versus PPP’s Awais Qadir Shah on PS-23.

PPP will fight to stave off challenges from GDA, PTI

An unpleasant incident in Khairpur during an election rally shows elections might be a close call there. Former Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah is facing GDA’s Ghaffar Shaikh on PS-26 and GDA’s candidate Ismail Shah, son of Pir Sadruddin Shah, is taking on Naeem Kharal on Khairpur’s PS-31. PPP’s Syed Murad Ali Shah faces GDA’s Sattar Rajpar on PS-34 in Naushahro Feroze.

The nucleus of PPP politics

The stage is set for interesting electoral bouts in Larkana — nucleus of the PPP’s politics — at least on three provincial seats: PS-10, PS-11 and PS-12. Contenders from the PPP, PTI and GDA are in the race there. PPP co-chairman’s sister Faryal Talpur is contesting on a provincial seat perhaps for the first time from Larkana. She is facing PTI’s Ameer Bakhsh Khan Bhutto, son of Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto, on PS-10.

GDA’s Moazzam Abbasi versus Nida Khuhro contest on PS-11 could be nail-biting and so could be the electoral fight between former home minister Sohail Anwar Siyal against GDA’s Syed Akbar Shah Rashdi on PS-12. Nida is contesting her first general election after candidature of her father, Nisar Khuhro, was rejected.

Larkana’s adjoining Shikarpur district is to have interesting fights between a former PPP minister, ex-PML-F stalwart, former Sindh Assembly speaker and former leader of the opposition in the assembly. Imtiaz Shaikh, formerly of the PML-F, is up against ex-PPP minister Agha Taimoor Pathan on PS-7; GDA’s Shaharyar Mahar is facing PPP’s Moinuddin Pahore on PS-8 and PPP’s Agha Siraj Durrani is facing GDA’s Muzaffar Essani on PS-9.

In Benazirabad district PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is also running for a National Assembly seat. The retirement of GDA and PTI’s candidates in favour of Sindh United Party’s Zain Shah has helped him become a serious contender against PPP’s Ghulam Qadir Chandio on PS-39 to make it a close fight.

High-profile triangular fight

Hyderabad’s interesting triangular high-profile fight is to take place between nationalist heavyweights and PPP’s former minister on PS-62. Sindh Taraqqi-Pasand Party’s Dr Qadir Magsi is staking his claim on a seat in addition to GDA luminary Ayaz Latif Palijo against PPP’s Jam Khan Shoro. The PTI has had its candidate retire in Ayaz’s favour but Magsi insists on staying in the race.

Another interesting and high-profile contest in Hyderabad is that of a former journalist, Mohammad Ali Kazi — who launched his Tabdeeli Pasand Party this year — engaged in one-on-one contest with Sharjeel Memon, PPP’s only leader who is contesting poll from jail, on PS-63. Mr Kazi has got support of the GDA, MQM-P and PTI for his first election.

Matiari district is also staging an interesting fight on two provincial constituencies: Hala — PPP’s birthplace — and Matiari. Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman is facing GDA’s Naseer Memon on PS-58 and his uncle Dr Makhdoom Rafik Zaman is up against GDA’s Jalal Shah Jamote on PS-59.

Local alliance against PPP

Contests between former Sindh chief minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah and SUP president Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah on PS-80, tribal chief Malik Asad Sikandar and Dr Sikandar Shoro have apparently become lively due to the formation of a local alliance against the PPP.

Similarly, the fight on at least two provincial seats of Dadu — PS-83 and PS-84 — is apparently going to be close. PTI’s Ahsan Jatoi is to face PPP’s Aziz Junejo on PS-83 and PTI’s Sadaqat Jatoi will take on PPP’s Fayyaz Butt on PS-84.

Bhutto loyalist Syed Ali Nawaz Shah — backed by the MQM-P — squares off against his maternal nephew and PPP candidate Zulfiqar Shah on Mirpurkhas’s PS-48.

In neighbouring Umerkot district, former culture minister Sardar Shah’s battle is against GDA’s Jadam Mangrio on PS-51, expected to be a close fight. A disciple of Sarwari Jamaat, Ali Murad Rajar has retired in Shah’s favour. Another leading light of the GDA, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim decided to fight against the PPP in Umerkot in addition to his native district, Tharparkar. Rahim takes on PPP’s Ali Mardan Shah on PS-52.

Rahim’s battle with his nephew Arbab Lutfullah on PS-57 is going to be interesting. A triangular close contest is likely among PPP’s Qasim Siraj Soomro, Abdul Ghani Khoso, a disciple of Hala’s Makhdooms, and GDA’s Arbab Anwar on PS-55, Tharparkar.

In Badin, eyes are also fixed on thrilling electoral battles between former PPP loyalists Dr Zulfikar Mirza, his wife Dr Fehmida Mirza and sons and PPP candidates. The Mirzas are contesting on five of the seven seats of the district. They are contesting on two national and three provincial constituencies as GDA candidates.

Dr Fehmida Mirza is contesting on PS-73 against Taj Mohammad of the PPP, her son Hasnain is up against PPP’s Ali Bakhsh Shah on PS-72 and her husband, Dr Zulfikar Mirza, is staking his claim on PS-74 against Ismail Rahu, who has recently joined the PPP.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2018