Sanghar gears up for grand fight in upcoming by-elections

Army presence requested at polling stations amid fears of clashes between PPP, PML-F

KARACHI: Tension prevails in Sanghar as the by-election on PS-81 approaches. The Pakistan Muslim League - Functional (PML-F) has requested the Election Commission of Pakistan to deploy army personnel inside and outside the polling stations to avoid rigging and violence in the constituency where the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Jam Madad Ali and PML-F's Jam Nafees Ali are contesting against each other on April 3. The seat was left vacant following Madad's leaving the PML-F and joining the ruling PPP some time ago.

Reports pouring in from Sangahr suggest that workers of both the parties have come face to face in many areas, which can lead to bloody clashes such as the one that occurred in the local bodies' elections of 2015 in Daraza, Khairpur Mir, where more than 12 people were killed.

"The PPP has started pre-poll rigging by transferring an honest deputy commissioner who was not obeying their orders and posting SHOs tasked with harassing and arresting our people. If the army is not deployed, the government will be responsible for any untoward incident," said Nafees in an application written to the election commission.



This is not only a competition between two rival political parties, but is also a race within the family of former chief minister of Sindh Jam Sadiq. Madad is his cousin and Nafees is his son-in- law and nephew.

This seat traditionally belongs to PML-F because of the Hur Jamaat influence in the area and Madad, being a candidate of this party has won the seat based on this. Since he has now joined the PPP, he might face tough completion.

According to election commission officials, the constituency is divided into four sub-divisions -Sinjhoro, Sindhuri, Sanghar and Jam Nawaz Ali - where around 139,000 voters are registered. "A total 122 polling stations are in this area and not a single one is 'normal'. All either are 'most sensitive' or 'sensitive' polling stations," said an election commission official.



On the other hand, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which has a vote bank in Nayyabad and Sindhuri areas, has also extended its support to the PML-F. "The last election was also held under the supervision of the army, given the sensitive nature of the area. If the election commission and concerned authorities do not take notice of our requests, a big tragedy could claim more lives," said PML-F Parliamentary Leader Nand Kumar told The Express Tribune. On the other hand, PPP candidate Madad ruled out all allegations of pre-poll rigging and said, "PML-F knows very well that I can win this seat, which is why they have made such a hue and cry".

Despite many attempts, the provincial election commissioner could not be reached but his spokesperson confirmed that they have received an application for the deployment of army personnel and referred the matter to the higher authorities in the election commission and law enforcement agencies. "The census is still going on under the supervision of the army. Let us see what response is received," he said.