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SUKKUR, Sept 23: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) faced a critical situation on Monday with the two tribal chiefs, Ali Mohammad Maher and Khalid Khan Lundh, announcing to contest the election as independent candidates after returning the party tickets.
Ghotki is largely dominated by feudal lords, chiefly those belonging to the Lundhs and Mahers, who also won National Assembly seats in the last elections.
In a press conference at the Maher House on Monday, Mr Maher announced to return the party ticket saying that he would contest for NA/201 and PS-6 as an independent candidate.
He said, “We have wasted 10 years in the party.”
He alleged that the PPP leaders, Khalid Khan Lundh and Saifullah Dharejo, opposed the Mahers in the local bodies elections.
He said they had caused irreparable loss to the Mahers and also to the party, and, therefore, he was returning the PPP ticket in protest.
Khalid Lundh followed him the next day and started canvassing for Nadir Akmal Leghari, a Millat Party candidate for PS-7, against Ahmed Ali Patafi of the PPP.
For PS-5, the PPP has given the ticket to Jam Mehtab Dahar against whom Ziauddin Chachar and Jam Aqil are contesting. Both the Lundhs and Mahers are sure of winning this seat but will cause a huge loss to the party.
There is likely to be a tough fight between Nadir Leghari and Ahmed Ali Patafi for PS-7 Ghotki, while the Muttahida have brought a Hindu candidate, Karori Ram, for the seat.
The PML (N) has put Muneer Samejo, son of its president, Sadiq Samejo, for NA/201 and PS-6 but he does not have much support.
For PS-6, Abdul Wahab Chachar and the SDA’s Mir Ehsan Sundrani are contesting against Ali Muhammad Maher.
The PPP has not yet been able to work out a strategy after the big upset caused by the former PPP feudal lords. Its workers seem to be in a state of quandary.
It is likely that the situation will have its repercussions on other districts as well in the coming days.
SDA: Sindh Democratic Alliance president Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh has said the SDA stands for the cause of Sindh.
He was speaking at a press conference at a hotel here on Monday.
