MIRPURKHAS, Sept 30: The electioneering has been intensified for the three National Assembly and seven provincial assembly seats in Mirpurkhas district.

On NA-226 (Mirpurkhas-I), a lively contest is expected between Pir Aftab Shah Jilani of the People’s Party Parliamentarians and Rais Ahmed Khan of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and Maulana Mushtaq Ahmed Naqshbandi of the Muttahida Majils-i-Amal are also in run for this seat.

The PPP has a strong following in this constituency and Jilani has won this seat in previous election.

The MQM’s candidate, who is being portrayed as a social worker, is the elder brother of the former party MNA, Anees Ahmed Khan.

The last local bodies elections had disturbed the MQM vote bank, as the Urdu-speaking people have again been divided into bradri system. The MQM is busy in uniting different Urdu-speaking communities by holding meetings with their elders.

The PML-Q candidate is also playing the bradri card as he is depending on the votes of his Qureshi and Malik communities.

A spirit of competition prevails among the workers of the PPP, MQM, PML-Q MMA as they continue hoisting of flags and fixing of banners in different parts of the city.

On NA-227 (Mirpurkhas-II), Syed Qurban Ali Shah (PPP), Shabbir Ahmed Qaimi (MQM), Makhdoom Shahnawaz (PML-N) and Mohammad Umer Khan (MMA) are the main contenders out of the 14 candidates for the seat.

A close contest is expected between Shahnawaz and Qurban Shah, who has recently joined the PPP.

Qurban Shah is also facing opposition of Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, who had filed his nomination papers from this constituency on the PPP ticket. However, his papers were rejected on the objections raised by Qurban Shah that he was a corruption convict in a National Accountability Bureau case.

Meanwhile, the Syed group of Samaro and Kot Ghulam Mohammad areas has announced to support Shahnawaz.

On NA-228 (Mirpurkhas-III), seven candidates are in the contest, including Nawab Mohammad Yousuf Talpur of the PPP, Kishanchand Parwani (Sindh Democratic Alliance) and Sakhawat Ali (MQM).

The PML-N and the PML (Q) are supporting Parvani, who is believed to give a tough time to Talpur.