NA-241 promises interesting competition in upcoming elections

KARACHI: Following a crisis in the rank and file of the Muttahida Quami Movement, a number of political parties with their increased political activities are taking chances to capture NA-241, which is District Korangi's last constituency.

The Korangi sub division, Korangi Creek Cantonment Board, Landhi sub division and Clifton Cantonment Board's different parts constitute this constituency.



Some of the major areas in this constituency include Korangi's Mehran Town, Gulzar Colony, Bilal Colony, Ali Muhammad Goth, Sharifabad, Korangi 1.5, Lucknow Society, Darul Salam Society, Nasir Colony, Zia Colony, Allahwala Town, Chakra Goth, Sector 37, Landhi, Awami Colony, Korangi Creek, Qayyumabad, Altaf Town, Khayaban-e-Jami and Phase VII, Defence Housing Authority.

Besides a majority of Urdu speaking people, a large number of people of other ethnicities and nationalities, including Hazara, Punjabi, Pakhtun and Gilgiti people are settled in the constituency.



Under the new delimitations, Sindh Assembly's PS-96, PS-97 and PS-98 constituencies are included in NA-241. As many as 15 candidates from NA-241, 15 from PS-96, 19 from PS-97 and 21 from PS-98 are contesting the seats.

The constituency is marred by problems of acute water shortage and lack of education, health, infrastructure and other facilities.



Many candidates in the constituency are facing problems in conducting their election campaigns and in displaying campaign material due to the Election Commission of Pakistan's strict code of conduct this time around. This difficulty is being cited as the reason for candidates using influential representatives of the communities to canvass for votes.

MQM's Amir Moeen Pirzada, Pak Sarzameen Party's (PSP) Muhammad Danish Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Faheem Khan, Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Muazzam Ali Qureshi, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) Tayeb Zarkhan and other parties' candidates are contesting from NA-241. A close competition is expected between MQM-Pakistan, PTI and PSP in NA-241 while the PPP, PML-N and other parties are also vying to secure the seat.



The MQM-Pakistan, PTI, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and other parties will be competing against each other in PS-96, PS-97 and PS-98. An interesting competition is expected in NA-241, PS-96, PS-97 and PS-98 after the new delimitations and new political dynamics, therefore the results from these constituencies may turn out to be suprising.

As per the new delimitations, NA-241 was demarcated from the areas of former National Assembly constituency NA-254 in mind.

The previous election' results for the NA-254 seat show that MQM's Advocate Nawab Mirza, Doctor Ayub Sheikh and Muhammad Ali Rashid emerged victorious in the 2002, 2008 and 2013 general elections respectively.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2018.