A file photo of Sharjeel Memon PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
HYDERABAD: The tug of war over the party tickets among the Hyderabad candidates of the Pakistan Peoples Party has ended with two heavyweights - Pir Amjad Shah Jeelani and Zahid Bhurgari - being heaved out of the contest.
The consequences may entail a split in the party’s voters at a time when the 10-party alliance in Sindh is reportedly making inroads into the PPP stronghold of Qasimabad and Hyderabad Rural talukas (administrative towns).
The party replaced its five-time Sindh Assembly member from PS-50 in Hyderabad Rural taluka, Pir Amjad Shah Jeelani, with the former Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon. Similarly, the constituency of the former provincial minister, Zahid Bhurgari, who got elected twice from PS-47 in Qasimabad in 2002 and 2008 general elections, has been given to Jam Khan Shoro, a former taluka Nazim.
Memon’s debut from Hyderabad has stirred an outcry in the constituency. In reaction, Jeelani announced to contest as an independent candidate against him while the PPP’s taluka president, Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur, resigned from his party position. He will also contest in an independent capacity in addition to the third local dissident of the PPP, the ex taluka Nazim of Hyderabad Rural, Khawand Bux Jahejo.
“I feel that all my services and struggle for the party have been ignored,” says Jeelani, who won from his area in all the five general elections since 1990. Memon, however, claims that he will bring back the dissidents in the party’s fold. “We are talking to Jeelani and Talpur. I hope both of them will withdraw in my favour.”
On the other hand, Zahid Bhurgari’s PS-47 has come out to be a docile constituency with no strong figure rising in opposition to Jam Khan Shoro. Bhurgari accepted the party’s decision saying that he has been promised a ‘bigger position’ within the party. “I had said while submitting the nomination forms that I will accept the decision even if I am denied a ticket.”
The PS-47 and PS-50 constituencies constitute the NA-221 constituency, one of the three National Assembly seats in Hyderabad. Syed Ameer Ali Shah Jamote, who won in 2002 and 2008 elections from this area, has been given the PPP ticket. The split in the PPP votebank in PS-50 and strong opposition to Bhurgari in PS-47, however, have made Jamote’s victory unpredictable, unlike the past elections.
Against the PPP candidates, the 10-party alliance has fielded Dr Rajab Memon of Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party at NA-221, Qaumi Awami Tehreek President Ayaz Palijo on PS-47 and Syed Shahabuddin Shah Hussaini on PS-50.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2013.
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