Ghotki voters set apart as influential Mahar family divides in two

PPP leader Faryal Talpur calls meeting to convince leaders

HYDERABABD: The politically influential Mahar family of Ghotki district stands divided for 2018 general elections in two rival camps - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).

Among the two seats of National Assembly and four of the Sindh Assembly, the family has fielded candidates for one NA and three for PS seats.

Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, who was elected MNA on PPP's ticket in 2013, has defected to GDA. He will now contest from NA-205 and PS-19 constituencies against the PPP on the alliance's ticket.

However, his brother Raja Mahar and Cousin Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar, former Sindh sports minister, will contest as the PPP's candidate from PS-21.

There are reports that the family has decided to support each other in their respective constituencies even if it means ditching other candidates of their parties.



Taking notice of such development, PPP's leader Faryal Talpur reportedly called Raja Mahar and Muhammad Bux for a meeting.

It is alleged that in the meeting Talpur asked Raja to file nomination paper for NA-205 to compete against his brother Ali Gohar. But Raja refused to stand against his brother.

"But, both of them promised they will support any candidate that the party nominates for the election [whose constituency covers both PS-20 and PS-21 of Muhammad Bux and Raja]," a political figure of Ghotki, who requested for anonymity, said.

Besides Mahars, the PPP has finalised candidates Khalid Ahmed Loond for NA-204, Jam Mehtab Dahar for PS-18 and Bari Pitafi for PS-19.

Pitafi was elected as MPA from the same constituency in a by-election in March, 2018, after defeating Pakistan Muslim League-Functional's Mian Abdul Malik.

For the remaining NA-205, Talpur has authorised Loond to select a candidate for NA-205 for a contest against Ali Gohar.



"I don't consider myself a strong candidate for NA-205," Raja was quoted as telling Talpur. He assured that both of them will actively participate in the election campaign for PPP if the party nominated any candidate from Loond family for NA-205.

So far, name of Babur Loond has surfaced as a potential candidate for NA-205.

Ghotki is rich in gas deposits with three gas fields operating in the district. It is also an agricultural district.