KARACHI, Oct 9: The stage is set for holding the first general elections after enforcement of the electoral reforms, which include joint electorate and the amended Peoples Representation Act which bars defaulters and corrupt elements from participating in elections.
According to estimates, voter turnout in posh localities, which never had been encouraging in the past, is likely to decline further due to the hot weather.
The weather forecast for Thursday has put temperature at 41-43 degrees Celsius which may have a negative impact on voter turnout. In view of the lack of enthusiasm among the people for the elections, only those candidates could make it whose workers could mobilize voters in the early hours before the heat becomes unbearable.
According to a survey, there are 22 candidates in NA-251, the highest number of candidates among NA constituencies in Karachi. This is followed by NA-257 where 19 candidates are in the field. In NA-253 and NA-256 there are 18 candidates each. In NA-243 there are only seven candidates in the field, the lowest number of candidates among NA constituencies.
The highest number of candidates are in PS-90 and PS-120: each having 24. The lowest number of candidates are in PS-99, PS-104 and PS-107 where eight candidates are in the field from each constituency.
Despite the fact that many experienced legislators of the leading political parties have been elbowed out from the field due to the graduation condition, one of the most interesting contest to be witnessed in the city would be in the NA-250 where 15 candidates are in the run, including five very high-profile aspirants. They are former senator Nasreen Jalil of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, former Karachi mayor and a Jamaat-i-Islami leader, Abdul Sattar Afghani, who contesting on the MMA ticket. A former governor of Sindh, Mamnoon Husain, is contesting as a PML (N) candidate. The PPP has awarded ticket to Dr Ikhtiar Baig, an industrialist, who has flooded his entire constituency with party flags, lifesize posters and banners.
Wajid Jawwad, a businessman, is contesting on the ticket of the PML (Q), which is known as the “King’s Party.” The Tehrik-i-Insaf has added colour by fielding a popular filmstar, Syed Kamal Shah.
In this constituency a close contest is likely between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, MMA and PPP.
In other constituency where the politically conscious voters have shown interest in the elections is NA-245 where Kunwar Khalid Yunus of the MQM (Muttahida), who had been returning to the assembly on Haq Parast ticket in the past, is pitted against Syed Munawwar Hasan, the Secretary-General of the Jamaat-i-Islami, who has been fielded by the MMA.
NA-246 is another constituency which is being watched closely due to the MQM’s (Muttahida) strategy of fielding a Sindhi-speaking candidate, Azizullah Brohi, from the heart of a locality where Sindhi-speaking people comprise the overwhelming majority. He is facing Rashid Naseem of the MMA, who is Secretary Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi. The PPP has fielded Khalid Ali.
NA-248, considered a PPP stronghold, has turned into an interesting constituency as a former speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Nabil Gabol of the PPP, is facing a very popular social figure of the locality, Prof Ali Mohammed Shaheen, who is contesting on the ticket of the National Alliance. The MQM (Muttahida) has fielded another Sindhi-speaking candidate, Sohrab Nizamani.
Another constituency which has attracted interest is NA-243 due to the candidacy of Iftikhar Ahmed Bhatti of the Sunni Tehrik who is facing less-known figures in NA-243. In NA-249 Dr Amir Liaquat Husain of the MQM (Muttahida) is pitted against Habib Memon of the PPP.
In NA-245 Riffat Jabeen of the PML (N) is facing Dr Mairajul Huda, JI leader and MMA candidate, and Shahinshah Jafri of the PPP. In NA-240 there are two known candidates out of 14. They are PPP’s, Mohammed Bux Lashari, and KS Mujahid of the PML (Q). In NA-241 the MQM’s (Muttahida) candidate is Maulana Ferozuddin Rahmani who is facing Afaq Khan Shahid of the PPP who had once been MNA from the area in 1993. In NA-251 PML (N) has fielded Mushahidullah Khan against the MMA candidate, Abdul Ghaffar, and the PML’s (Q), Sultan Ahmad Chawla.