KARACHI, Aug 23: The People’s Party Parliamentarians released on Friday list of its candidates for the National and provincial assemblies’ seats from Karachi, amid criticism from workers.

The candidates’ list includes advocates, businessmen, doctors and traditional heavy weights of the PPP.

Though the main contender for Karachi would be the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the PPP has not fielded many candidates from the urdu-speaking community. The PPP claims that it is a national party and does not believe in ethnicity, which has been reflected in the choice of its candidates. The list reflects the confusion prevailing in the camp.

Since no final decision has been reached in many constituencies, more than one persons have been directed to file nominations, for which Aug 24 is the last date.

From NA-239 Iftekhar Hussain of Afghan Carpet has been given preference over a hardcore activist and the general secretary of the PPP Sindh, Rashid Rabbani, who is a cover candidate form a constituency where the PPP has had the upper hand.

Afaq Shahid is a candidate from NA-241 with S. M. Zia Alam, advocate, as cover candidate. There is no candidate for PS-94. Industrialist Mirza Ikhtiar Baig is the main candidate from posh locality constituency NA-250. Shireen Khan is a candidate from PS-93 with Rojahn Afridi as a cover candidate. Shahanshah Hussain Jaferi is a candidate from NA-244. Another heavy weight is Nabil Gabol from NA-248. Television artiste Shafi Mohammed Shah has been preferred over old activist Khalil Qureshi, who is district president old district East. He is a cover candidate.

Another TV artiste, Qaiser Khan Nizamani, has been preferred for NA-251 in place of Saeed Ghani and Raheel Iqbal, who are cover candidates. Haji Muzaffar Shujra has been preferred over Abdul Hakim Baloch, former provincial minister, and Abdullah Murad, who are covering candidates.

During the day some activists of the PPP had gathered outside Bilawal House to given vent to their reservations at the nominations. They were especially critical of Mr Shujra and some others for ignoring hardcore workers who had faced the brunt of state brutalities for the party cause.