KARACHI, Aug 28: An interesting fight is expected between two major parties of the country and pro-government Sindh Democratic Alliance on an NA seat in Lyari area.
In a surprise move, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has decided to field a Baloch candidate for NA-248 seat to confront the PPP in its traditional political base.
It is learnt that the MQM has picked up a former bureaucrat Sohrab Nizami, a resident of Baghdadi area, to contest the NA-248 seat against the PPP candidate, Sardar Nabil Gabol, former deputy speaker of Sindh Assembly.
On the other hand, the newly-formed Sindh Democratic Alliance is also fielding a Baloch candidate, Prof Ali Mohammad Shaheen, a widely respected personality among the educated class of Lyari.
Mr Shaheen is known for his free educational services. He has produced hundred of graduates in the locality at his free tuition classes. The Baloch Ittehad Tehrik has already announced its support to Mr Shaheen.
Both Nizami and Prof Shaheen are new faces in the politics of Lyari but have a little experience in electoral politics as compared to the PPP candidate Sardar Nabil Gabol.
Mr Nizami had contested the previous local bodies elections for a Nazim seat in the Baghdadi UC area as an independent candidate, but he had lost the seat.
But this time situation is quite different. He now has a support base of an organized party which has a vast experience of politicking.
The NA-248 is only the traditional seat in the city where the PPP has always defeated its rival parties. However, the results of the previous two elections show that the dents appeared in the PPP vote-bank as in the 1997 election, its candidates won the seat with a margin of 300 votes against a PML-N candidate.
Due to a split in the PML camp, the PML-N seems to be not in focus despite the fact that it also enjoys support in the locality, particularly in Punjabi-and-Pakhtoon-dominated areas.
But it is not clear whether the party will extend its support to one of these parties in case of any seat-to-seat adjustment or put up its own candidates.
The Muttahida also has solid vote-bank in the Urdu-speaking areas of Lyari. It is yet to be seen whether the Muttahida will seek the support of other parties, including the PPP-SB.
The Sindhi nationalist groups, particularly the Jeay Sindh factions will openly support the MQM candidate, it is also learnt.
The success of the MQM candidate will ultimately depend that there would be a major dent in Baloch-Sindhi vote in the locality, the major supporters of the PPP.
In any way, the entry of the MQM in the politics of Lyari is itself a new factor. It is for the first time that the MQM will play an active role in Baloch areas which were traditionally once the PPP-dominated areas.
The NA-248 comprises areas such as Agra Taj Colony, Katchi Colony, Juma Baloch Road, Naval Colony, New Kalri, Hingorabad Darayabad, Baloch Para, Liaquat Colony, Nawabad, Khadda, Memon Society, People’s Playground, Baghdadi, Shah Beg Lane, Basra Colony, Moosa Lane, Kakri Ground, Miran Naka, Mandra Mohalla, Gulistan Colony, Rangiwara, Moinabad, Hazara Colony, Punjabi Mohalla, Photo Lane, Karo Lane, Kalakot, Nabi Dad Lane, Juman Shah Plot, Sheedi Village Road, Noor Elahi Road and Gul Mohammad Lane, Chawkiwara.