KARACHI, Nov 15: A total of 15 candidates have filed nomination papers for by-elections in three constituencies of the Sindh Assembly — PS-106, PS-117 and PS-120 — in Karachi district. Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nomination papers, and the elections will be held on Dec 10.

The PS-106 had fallen vacant with the resignation of Kanwar Naveed Jamil of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, following his election as the city Nazim of Hyderabad in the local government election.

Likewise, PS-117 had also fallen vacant after Syed Mustafa Kamal of the MQM resigned after his election as City Nazim of Karachi while PS-120 seat had fallen vacant with the demise of MQM-MPA Ali Bin Hamid.

According to the election commission sources, against PS-106 nomination papers, four were found valid. These papers were filed by: Arbab Ali Khan, Khalid Bin Villayat, Syed Athar Raza Rizvi and Syeed Javed Iqbal.

In PS-117 nomination papers, there are six candidates. They are Dr Saghir Ahmed, Fayaz Ahmed, Habibur Rasheed, Prof Abdul Qadir Shaikh, Pir Abdul Rasheed and Ms Razia Sultana.

In PS- 120, there are five candidates. They are: Naushad Muhammad Zia Quaderi, Shamshad Hussain, Mohammad Rashid, Muhammad Hashim Siddiqui and Ahmed Wasim Alvi.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement is the only party which has fielded more than one candidate in each constituency unofficially as the decision of the party candidates would be announced after scrutiny of papers.

Pakistan People’s Party has also ensured nomination of its candidate in each constituency.

However, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, which also had announced to field its candidates, failed to make it for want of cooperation except in one constituency PS-120 from where Mohammad Hashim Siddiqui of JUP is the candidate.

The candidates fielded by the PPP are: Syed Javed Iqbal in PS-106, Pir Abdul Rasheed in PS-117 with Ms Razia Sultana as covering candidate while in PS-120 Ahmad Wasim Alvi has filed nomination papers as PPP candidate.

In PS-117, Prof Abdul Quadir Shaikh has filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate.

PPP Karachi President Rashid Rabbani told Dawn that the Karachi chapter of the party had decided to contest election on each seat and for this purpose, they have done their homework well.

Chief of Jamaat-i-islami Karachi chapter Dr Maitajul Huda Siddiqui said that as it was a principled decision that the candidates who had contested from these constituencies in the general election 2002 would file nomination papers, the JI did not put up any of its candidate from any of the three constituencies.

Allama Hasan Turabi of Tehreek-i-Islami, who is Vice President of MMA, said that in the given situation, it was meaningless to field candidate as they don’t expect fair and free elections.

According to the election schedule, scrutiny of the nomination papers would be held on Nov 16 and 17, while appeals could be filed against acceptance or rejection of nominations on Nov 19 which would be decided by Nov 22 by the tribunal. Candidates could withdraw their nomination papers by Nov 24 and final list of the candidates would be published on Nov 25.

PS-106 constituency is spread over Al-Azam Square, Al-Karam, Apsara apartments, Sharifabad, Gharibabad, Ishaqabad, Bandhani Colony, FB Area, Bhangoria Goth, Gulshan-i-Shamim and Sikandarabad.

PS-117: PIB Colony, Aminabad, Clayton Quarters, Jamshed Quarters, Jehangir Road, Martin Quarters, Usmania Mohajir Colony, Pakistan Quarters, Islam Nagar, People’s Colony, Mohammadi Colony, Mustafa Colony, Patel Para, Garden East, Soldier Bazar, Parsi Colony and Catholic Colony.

PS-120: Natha Khan Goth, Shah Faisal Colony, Pak Sadat Colony, Masan Ghat, New Iqbal Colony, Reta Plot, Green Town, Asifabad, Morio Khan Goth, Golden Town and Punjab Town.