KARACHI: Liaquatabad Town has a middle class and lower middle class population, estimated at 649,091 in the 1998 census. Registered voters number 336,083, of whom 184,301 are men and 151,782 women and 9,146 who belong to the minority communities. Liaquatabad and Nazimabad are the two major areas of the town and both were components of the defunct district central.

Liaquatabad Town consists of 11 union councils—Rizvia Society, Firdous Colony, Super Market, Dak Khana, Qasimabad, Bandhani Colony, Sharifabad, Commercial Area, Mujahid Colony, Nazimabad, and Abbasi Shaheed.

The entire district central was a stronghold of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and it dominated Liaquatabad and Nazimabad in the past. The MQM’s boycott of the local body polls in 2001 left the field open for other contestants. Consequently, candidates belonging to the Jamat-i-Islami backed Al-Khidmat group won in the area and the group’s nominee become nazim.

Some 237 polling stations have been notified in Liaquatabad town. Police believe that the law and order situation could be sensitive in 133 polling stations.

A low turnout was witnessed in the 2001 local elections, largely because of the absence of the MQM from the field. The situation has changed during the four-year term of the local government and the nazims have brought about a visible change in their respective areas. Observers say that the Haq Parast group will definitely win a majority of seats in most of the union councils of Liaquatabad Town, but it could face a tough fight with the Al-Khidmat group in at least four union councils. Fears of clash between the two rivals could result in a lower than expected turnout.

The contesting candidates have started holding corner meetings to mobilize public opinion. They have been making pledges and commitments to initiate improvements in civic conditions, education, and health facilities besides upgrading recreational facilities.

The future nazim and the members of the union councils of Liaquatabad Town will have to work hard as the outgoing local government made improvements that were felt by the residents. A shopkeeper in Rizvia said that the local government had not only widened Siddique Alikhan Road running between Lasbella and Nazimabad Chowrangi, but also re-carpeted it. Due to the widening and re-carpeting, the traffic flow had become smoother.

The work done by the outgoing nazim and his team included the upgrading of Ghalib Library, improvement in the Sports Complex, establishment of a new Library, creating two new parks, and installing of floodlights at the post office intersection and the Liaquatabad flyover. Besides, the local government brought about improvement in the Sir Syed Girls College, and Women’s College where commerce classes were launched.

However, the residents appear to be fed up with fast spreading encroachments on the town’s roads by patharedars and pushcart holders. They said that the local government had failed to remove the encroachments and did not even make any effort in that direction. The major encroachment can been seen on the dual carriageway of S.M Taufeeq Road running between the Liaquatabad flyover to Teen Hatti bridge. A major part of the road on either side has been encroached upon. Half of the remaining road is used for parking and only two lanes and often just one track is left for traffic, which leads to traffic jams during rush hours.

The second major problem is the leakage of sewage in different localities of Liaquatabad. The residents of Nazimabad are of the view that there is no water problem in their area and leakage of sewage is rare.

Though the list of contestants for the union councils poll has not yet been finalized, observers say that tough fight between candidates of the Haq Parast and Al Khidmat groups is expected in at least four union councils i.e. Mujahid Colony, Commercial Area, Firdous Colony, and Qasimabad. Mujahid Colony is mainly populated by people from NWFP and Punjab and their support is expected to go to the candidates of Al Khidmat group. The Haq Parast group will have to work hard to make any dent in this area.

The Commercial Area of Liaquatabad Town has mixed population, including supporters of the Muttahida Quami Movement. In some areas of this union council, the Haq Parast group dominates but they may face opposition in other areas of the union council.

The Firdous Colony union council appears to be a happy hunting ground for the MQM as the vast majority comprises supporters of the Haq Parast group. However, its adjoining area, which has been included in the union council recently, has a vast population of Pathans. The votes appear to be divided between the Haq Parast and Al Khidmat groups in the adjoining areas of Firdous Colony where Al Khidmat group candidates could give some fight. So is the case with the union council of Qasimabad, where a mixed population lives and the fight is expected to be interesting.