TLP optimistic about by-polls in Karachi

There is no other religio-political party contesting by-polls for NA-243, which can benefit us, claims candidate

KARACHI: As no major religio-political party, including Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), is contesting the by-elections for NA-243 scheduled this month in Karachi, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) seems optimistic about its victory. However, in the constituencies, where by-polls are being held, the TLP's performance hasn't been remarkable.

The by-polls for NA-243 (East-II) and PS-87 (Malir-I) will be held on October 14. The PS-87 elections were postponed due to the death of a TLP candidate. It is the only PS seat where Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) is contesting elections under the banner of MMA.

The by-polls for NA-247 (South-II) and PS-111 (South-V) will take place on October 21. NA-247 was vacated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Arif Alvi after he was elected the President of Pakistan, while PTI's Imran Ismail vacated PS-111 after being appointed governor of Sindh.



Since the nomination papers of the TLP's candidate for the NA-247 were rejected by the Election Commission of Pakistan, so the party will be contesting from only NA-243, PS-87 and PS-111.

TLP's significance

The newly-formed religio-political group entered the Sindh Assembly by winning two seats, PS-107 in District South comprising different localities of Lyari and PS-115 in District West that comprises Baldia Town. The party also made a strong mark in other constituencies of the port city where it secured the second highest number of votes.

The TLP also came second in District South's NA-246 constituency, comprising Lyari, after defeating Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in what was traditionally a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stronghold.

Chances of victory?

While the party gave some surprises in general elections, their chances of victory in the by-polls are bleak. The party has fielded Dr Syed Nawazul Huda, a PhD and statistician, for NA-243, which was vacated by Prime Minister Imran Khan who won four more seats in different parts of the country.

Huda's performance was not remarkable in the general elections as he secured the sixth position after managing to bag only 6,489 votes. On the other hand, the MMA candidate received 16,214 votes. "There is no other religio-political party contesting by-polls for NA-243, which can benefit us," said Huda. He admitted that the PTI managed to get a good number of votes in the general elections, but believes that now things have changed.

According to Huda, he can get votes from areas such as Gulzar-e-Hijri, Dhoraji and Dalmia which are strongholds of TLP.

For Malir's PS-87, the party has fielded Qurban Ali. However, TLP's performance in Malir District wasn't amazing except that in PS-88 where the party secured the third position and bagged 7,694 votes, defeating Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N).



The PS-87 constituency covers Malir's Bin Qasim Town, Gadap Town and has substantial rural areas, which according to Ali would benefit him. "We are expecting votes from 30 villages," he said and added that Lashari Goth, Sheedi Goth and Ibrahim Goth were their strongholds. Ali, who is a builder by profession, belongs to Sindh's Burgari cast, which he believes will help him bag votes from the Sindhi community.

The party has fielded Sikandar Agar for PS-111, where previously TLP's Tahira Kausar secured the eighth position after bagging 1,477 votes and the MMA received 8,754 votes. Agar is confident that he will be able to give tough time to the PTI this time, by securing MMA's votes, as the party isn't contesting the by-elections.

Agar is a resident of Postal and Telegraph Colony near Punjab Colony and is Bantva Memon by caste. He has also remained a member of Jamiat-e-Ulema Pakistan - Noorani. PS-111 which mainly comprises Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Gizri, Dehli Colony, Punjab Colony and some areas of Cantt Station, seems to be a stronghold of PTI, however, according to Agar, the Memon community would definitely vote for him.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2018.