MMA pulls out from six Khairpur constituencies in favour of GDA

PTI has already announced support for GDA in those constituencies

HYDERABAD: The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has pulled out its six candidates in Khairpur district in favour of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA). The district consists of three constituencies of the National Assembly and seven of the Sindh Assembly.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is also supporting the GDA in as many constituencies in Khairpur where the alliance is pitted against the Pakistan Peoples Party.

"Following the order of our leadership, we are going to support GDA's candidates and retire our candidates," said Muhammad Ramzan Phulpoto, the MMA's provincial leader who is himself a candidate for NA-210 Khairpur, at a joint press conference with GDA leader Syed Ghous Ali Shah. He announced that the MMA was withdrawing from the contests for NA-208, NA-209, NA-210, PS-26, PS-27 and PS-32.

After the MMA vacating the field, Khairpur will witness a one-on-one electoral combat for the six seats. Ghous is vying against PPP's Nafisa Shah in NA-208, GDA's Pir Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi against PPP's Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jeelani in NA-209 and Syed Kazim Ali Shah against PPP's Syed Javed Ali Shah Jeelani in NA-210.



GDA candidate Abdul Ghaffar Shaikh has thrown down the gauntlet to PPP's Syed Qaim Ali Shah, former chief minister, in PS-26. Mir Shahnawaz Khan Talpur and Syed Muhammad Rashid Shah of the GDA will be contending against Munawar Ali Wassan and Nawab Ali Wassan in PS-27 and PS-32 respectively.

Phulpoto informed the media that the MMA and GDA were also negotiating the withdrawal of one of their candidates in PS-31.

The GDA will form the next government in Sindh, Ghous claimed. "The people of Sindh want to get rid of the PPP because of their perpetual 10 years of corruption and bad governance," he added.

No seat adjustments have taken place between major parties as of now in the remaining three provincial constituencies of Khairpur. Candidates of the PPP, GDA, MMA and PTI, among others, are contesting for those constituencies.