HYDERABAD, Sept 13: The voters and the candidates remain indifferent in Hyderabad, rendering the election activities lacklustre.

The on-going election activities, which can only be viewed on different television channels, lack traditional enthusiasm. However, the so-called political pundits can be seen propounding their philosophies and analyses on television channels.

However, the printing presses, banner painters and flag- makers remain idle awaiting orders from the approved candidates.

The main political party in Hyderabad city, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), also seemed afflicted by the prevailing indifferent attitude. It has confined itself to wall chalking and flag hoisting in various localities. The Muttahida workers appear to be facing a tough time from the equally aggressive MQM (Haqiqi) counterparts. Clashes cannot be ruled out between the two parties.

The Muttahida seemed to have discarded its diehard supporters. Except for Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, advocate, the deputy convenor of the Muttahida’s co-ordination committee, the party has fielded new candidates for the four provincial assembly seats and one national assembly seat from the city.

Aftab Shaikh, a veteran, had remained a member of the National Assembly and the Senate. He is contesting from NA-220 Hyderabad-III against the MMA candidate, Sahebzada Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair and 11 other candidates.

The Muttahida has fielded Prof Khalid Wahab from NA-219, Hyderabad-II. He is a new entrant in the party as well as politics. Prof Wahab’s nomination has shocked many people in the literary circle. Professor Wahab, a highly respected man of letters, retired as the director of colleges only a couple of years ago. He has no previous experience of politics. He will be facing MMA candidate Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, a seasoned political campaigner and 12 others.

In NA-218, Hyderabad-I, the Muttahida has nominated Rasool Bux Memon, who will be facing PP Parliamentarians chairman Makhdoom Mohammad Amin Faheem, if he does not withdraw. This would be a formality as no one can defeat Makhdoom Saheb in his own ancestral constituency.

For NA-221 Hyderabad-IV, the Muttahida’s ticket holder is a noted Sindhi writer Qamar Shahbaz. He stands no chance at all against PPP candidate Syed Ameer Ali Shah Jamote and PPP-SB candidate, Moula Bux Mashori and 10 other candidates. It will be wishful thinking to expect the Sindhi people of Qasimabad to vote for Shahbaz.

The Muttahida had nominated Asadullah Baloch from NA-222, Hyderabad-V, who will be facing Syed Naveed Qamaruzzaman Shah of the PPP and nine other candidates. He hardly stands any chance against the PPP stalwart.

The Muttahida has pitted Ms Samina Khanzada from NA-223, Hyderabad-IV, against the PPP’s female candidate Ms Shamshad Sattar Bachani and 10 others. This seat has always been won by the PPP despite the fact that the Muttahida can muster a sizebale votebank in this constituency of Tando Allahyar.

So far as the 12 provincial assembly seats are concerned, the Muttahida has fielded seven Sindhi candidates — Rasheed Chandio, Rasool Bux Memon, Shabbir Bachkani, Allah Dino Shoro, Ramzan Samoon, Akbar Mallah and Nazeer Jamali from PS-43, 44, 47, 51, 52, 53 and 54 respectively. They stand no chance against the PPP candidates.

Similarly, Ashfaq Kaim Khani, the Muttahida candidate from Tando Allahyar, will not be able to fare well against the formidable PPP candidate, Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi from PS-51.

However, the four seats from Hyderabad city — PS-45, PS-46, PS-48 and PS-49 — traditionally won by the Muttahida, will again be bagged by its candidates notwithstanding the fact all the four are new faces. The only thing that remains to be seen is the winning margin. The MQM culture is to vote for the lamp-post if it represents the party, but this time the poles are likely to be cut to size.