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KARACHI, Sept 28: If past performance and ethnic composition of a constituency are valid yardsticks to go by, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement is likely to romp home in NA-246 in the Oct 10 elections.
Sceptical political pundits, however, do not wish to rule out the divisive role religio-political parties like Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal will play in constituencies where the MQM has traditionally ruled the roost. First, they may whittle away the number of votes the Muttahida garnered the last time it took part in the elections. Second, the dismal human-rights record of the political party might count against it in securing an overwhelming majority.
The localities which constitute NA-246 — where at least three political and one religious party are in the electoral fray — are awash with Muttahida flags, particularly in Federal B Area and Liaquatabad.
The candidate fielded by the MQM in this constituency — which includes the party headquarters ‘90’ — is Azizullah Brohi, who is a retired police official.
He hails from Jacobabad where he was a union council Nazim before he was selected by the MQM. He retired from his union council to take part in the elections.
Political analysts maintain that a non-Urdu-speaking candidate could win in this area, which is supposed to be a bastion of the Muttahida, only if he has the blessings of the party. They also point out that the MQM has fielded a Sindhi-speaking candidate in a bid to show that it is a national political party rather than a regional party exploiting the ethnic origins of a certain section of society.
The political observers foresee a bit of unease and tension in this constituency, especially those areas in Liaquatabad which abut pockets of Haqiqi-dominated localities, on the polling day. They point to the many posters of “candle” which dot the area near Liaquatabad.
The Haqiqi-group, which subsequently acquired the title of Mohajir Qaumi Movement, broke away from the Muttahida in 1992 ostensibly on the ground that the Altaf Hussain-led Muttahida had changed its name from Mohajir Qaumi Movement to Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Leaders of the MMA have said at public briefings that they have faced opposition in putting up their posters in F.C. Area and Gharibabad.
The constituency is composed of at least 12 charges. The first charge consists of Block 14 (part) Federal B. Area. The second charge comprises Block 7 & Block 9 (part) Federal B Area. The third charge consists of Blocks 10, 12, Federal B Area and Block 11, 13 (part) Federal B Area. The fourth charge is made up of Moosa Colony, Federal B Area, Block 4 & Block 6 (part), Federal B Area.
The fifth charge consists of Block 1, 3, 4 (part), Federal B Area. The sixth charge comprises Block 8 (part), Federal B Area, and Bhangoria Goth, and Gulshan-i-Shamim, Federal B Area. The seventh charge is composed of Block 2, Federal B Area. The eight charge is made up of Block 1, Federal B Area, Al-Azam Square, Block 1 Sharifabad & Gharibabad, Ishaqabad and Bundhani Colony.
The ninth charge consists of F.C. Area, Punjabi Colony, Apsara Apartment, Al-Karam Square (part) F.C. Area. The tenth charge is composed of Liaquatabad No 4 (part) & Liaquatabad No 3 (part). The eleventh charge is made up of Liaquatabad Block No 10, Block No 8, Old Gharibabad, Sikandara, Liaquatabad Block No 9, 12. The twelfth charge is composed of UBL Complex, Federal B Area & Block 15, Block No 9 (part) Federal B Area, Gharibabad, Federal B Area, A-1 Cottages and Yaseenabad.
According to the previous delimitation of the city, the areas which at present constitute NA-246 previously came under NA-187 and NA-188. In the 1997 general elections, Mohammad Farooq Ahmed, father of Dr Imran Farooq, of the Muttahida won the seat in NA-187 bagging 62,621 votes. Dr Imran Farooq had won this seat with an overwhelming majority in the elections of 1988 (93,499 votes) and 1990 (111,340 votes). When the Muttahida boycotted the 1993 elections, Hafiz Mohammad Taqi of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group) won the seat, securing 9,863 votes only. In the 1997 elections, Dr Imran Farooq was in hiding and his father took part in the elections.
In the 1997 general elections, Hassan Masna Alvi of the Muttahida won the seat in NA-188 bagging 105,323 votes. The Muttahida had boycotted the 1993 elections. As a result, Muzaffar Ahmed Hashmi won the seat securing 12,235 votes. Syed Mohammad Aslam of the Muttahida set records in this constituency — first in the 1988 elections by bagging 131,012 votes and second in the 1990 elections by obtaining 142,591 votes.
The number of registered voters in the 1997 elections in NA-187 and in NA-188 was 265,953 and 388,584 respectively. The average voters’ turn-out 30.66 per cent.
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY: NA-246 of the national assembly covers two constituencies of the provincial assembly: PS-105 and PS-106.
According to Election Commission statistics, the total population of PS-105 is 239,999 while the number of registered voters is 71,283 (men) and 63,096 (women). The total population of PS-106 is 244,583 while the number of registered voters is 67,823 (men) and 59,534 (women).
According to the previous delimitation of the city, the areas which at present constitute PS-105 and Ps-106 came under PS-80 and PS-82.
In the 1997 elections, Mohammad Zahid Qureishi of the MQM won the seat in PS-80 by bagging 30,012 votes. Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bokhari of the Muttahida won by bagging 39,221 votes in the 1993 elections. Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui of the Muttahida secured 60,593 votes and 43,204 votes in the 1993 and 1988 elections respectively.
In the 1997 and 1993 elections, Wakil Ahmed Jamali of the Muttahida won the seat in PS-82 by securing 31,217 votes and 41,498 votes respectively. In the 1990 elections, Badar Iqbal of the Muttahida won the seat by obtaining 57,684 votes. In the 1988 elections, Jaffar Ali won the seat by securing 46,419 votes.
