KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Works and Services Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Monday tendered his resignation to campaign for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate in the by-election for NA-205 Ghotki-II.

Polling will be held on July 18.

Mr Shah, who hails from Sukkur, called on PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and submitted his resignation to him.

After accepting the resignation, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah forwarded it to Governor Imran Ismail under Article 132(3) of the Constitution advising him to accept it.

The seat had fallen vacant after federal minister Ali Mohammad Mahar died of a heart attack in May.

The competition in the constituency has become tough because Ahmad Ali Mahar, son of the late Ali Mohammad Mahar, is contesting as an independent candidate like his father who later on joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. The PPP has given its ticket to Mohammad Bux Mahar who earlier was elected on the PPP ticket from PS-8 Ghotki IV in 2013 and 2018.

Ahmad Ali Mahar also had support of the PTI and the Grand Democratic Alliance.

Mohammad Bux Mahar had resigned as adviser to the Sindh chief minister for sports and youth affairs.

Livestock Minister Bari Pitafi, who was elected from PS-7 Ghotki in the 2018 elections, has also resigned.

Mr Pitafi is PPP’s covering candidate from NA-205.

Mohammad Bux Mahar also had support of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl.

Saifullah Khan Dharejo, who had also been elected from Ghotki, has announced his support for Mohammad Bux Mahar as well.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2019