JAMSHORO: The one name that has indisputably dominated the politics of Jamshoro district over the decades is Malik Asad Sikandar, who has been in and out of Pakistan Peoples Party for political reasons, but the self-styled ‘King of Kohistan’ is now facing new challengers in the form of Jamshoro Ittehad — a conglomerate of anti-Malik parties, communities and individuals — and increasingly assertive wealthy Hindu community.

Malik, a powerful tribal chieftain, wields so great an influence in the area that the mountainous region has become synonymous with his name. After having dissociated from PPP during Musharraf rule, Malik retuned to the party’s fold soon after the party leader’s assassination.

He is one of the three sitting members of Sindh Assembly from Jamshoro besides Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah and Giyanoo Mal though he won his last election on the basis of a controversial poll result challenged before Election Tribunal by his rival and disgruntled PPP leader, Dr Sikandar Shoro, on Kotri’s constituency of PS-82.

As always, PPP has nominated all candidates for the second phase of local government scheduled for July 24 exclusively according to Malik’s advice though for quite some time, Malik has had a roller-coaster ride in the party.

He had fallen out of the party leader’s favour in 2017 in the wake of his dispute with Bahria Town over land acquisition in his area. At one point he had felt isolated in his own native district and had to struggle to win provincial seat in 2018 polls.

As Jamshoro district nazim under Musharraf regime, Malik had opposed Sikandar Shoro in February 2007 by-poll on Kotri provincial seat, leading to victory of Pir Mujib Jillani.

Dr Shoro did not forget that defeat. He has formed the alliance of anti-Malik parties and individual by the name of “Jamshoro Ittehad” for LG elections, to give Malik, his ex-party colleague, the taste of his own medicine. Shoro is also making overtures to PPP for a ‘reunion’ but talks before polls between the two sides have so far remained inconclusive.

“Malik has placed some conditions before the party leadership for Shoro and his allies’ rejoining of the party,” said an observer.

“Malik wants Shoro to join PPP alone and leave his allies as they are part of tribes and sub-tribes who Malik presides but Dr Shoro doesn’t agree to this proposition and wants to enter PPP along with his allies who have stood by him through thick and thin,” he said.

“All the candidates are indeed PPP’s nominees but they are choice of Malik sahib,” said a local observer. The party heavily relied on Malik’s advice for the selection of candidates in Jamshoro, Thana Bula Khan and Kotri except Sehwan taluka, the chief minister’s hometown.

Jamshoro has 30 UCs, one district council with 30 directly elected seats, five town committees (Bhan Syedabad, Sann, Manjhand, Thana Bula Khan and Jamshoro), three municipal committees (Kotri, Bolhari and Sehwan). It has a population of 993,908 with 258,893 male and 213,829 female voters (total 472,722 voters) in four talukas of Sehwan, Kotri, Thana Bula Khan and Manjhand.

The other influential factor in Jamshoro district’s politics is the family of founder of nationalist movement late G.M. Syed whose paternal grandson, Syed Jalal Mahmood Shah, heads Sindh United Party and is a major part of Jamshor Ittehad.

Changing times

Jamshoro has considerable Hindu population mostly concentrated in Thana Bula Khan (TBK) taluka. Most Hindu seths who dominate business of pesticides, seed and cotton ginning and rice mills sectors hail.

TBK town committee has six wards with 10,918 registered voters in seven union councils. “The mobile phone connectivity has played a central role in changing minds of people in Kohistan as people start using social media,” said a local resident.

Malik’s native Thana Ahmed Khan was located in this taluka. Kohistan region falls in TBK in Jamshoro and Jhimpir of Thatta districts where people often face drought conditions as the area is mostly rain-dependent.

TBK’s powerful Hindu community that has always remained at Malik’s beck and call has lately started asserting itself. Wealthy Hindu seths usually lead Panchayats, which are increasingly feeling disenchanted within Malik’s circle.

“In one case, Malik sahib cold-shouldered Hindu Panchayat of UC Sari on election issue and that’s why Panchayat decided to field its own candidate for vice chairman’s slot in alliance with Jamshoro Alliance’s candidate against PPP,” he said.

Jamshoro Alliance is a potent challenger. “But Malik still matters,” he quipped.

Malik Asad didn’t respond to repeated calls and messages by the correspondent.

“Today our community fellows are contesting again in Kohistan. It is something unheard of and unseen over the past 72 years,” argued Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das Kohistani, sitting PML-N MNA on a reserved seat.

“I first contested on Jamshoro’s NA seat in 2018 polls and received only 500 votes from Thana Ahmed Khan’s polling station, which were the highest votes of mine in Malik’s area,” he recalled.

Candidates of Shoro-led Jamshoro Ittehad oppose PPP-Malik candidates on his home turf. The alliance is primarily banking on 10 district council’s seats although it is eyeing 19 seats out of 30. Jalal Mahmood Shah will be focusing on Manjhand and Sann town or probably Bhan Syedabad.

Jamshoro Ittehad comprises SUP’s Syed Jalal Mahmood Shah, Malik Changez (Malik’s relative), Birhamanis, Khaskhelis, Nadeem Jillani and Palari Ittehad.

Malik’s son, Malik Sikandar has also joined the fray, taking on his father’s opponents who were using social media against the candidates nominated by his father and PPP.

For the first time, Malik could not get even a single pair of chairman and vice chairman elected unopposed in 30 directly contested seats of district council even in his own hometown, UC Thana Ahmed Khan in TBK. Ward councillors were indeed elected unopposed here.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, however, got three pairs of chairmen and vice chairmen elected unopposed in UCs Banbha, Wahur and Bajara in Sehwan. “Historically, candidates in LG polls used to be elected unopposed in fairly large numbers in Kohistan but the situation has changed now,” Kohistani said.

In UC Sari that touches Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, the alliance’s candidate Lajpat Khatwani is facing PPP-Malik candidate following local Hindu Panchayat’s decision. In another UC Mole of TBK, a Hindu candidate is facing Malik-PPP’s candidate.

In UC Thana Ahmed Khan, the alliance’s Rakesh Kumar is facing PPP-Malik candidate Vishnu Mal. In UC Mole, the alliance’s Khair Mohammad Shehno and Abbas Shehno pair face PPP’s Rashid Hamlani and Lekhraj pair. Indeed, electoral landscape in Jamshoro district is going to get exciting by each day till July 24.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2022