Key political figures exit city’s electoral arena

KARACHI:

A seismic shift has happened in the political landscape of the metropolis as the leaders of two major political parties have pulled out of the electoral battleground just before the 2024 general elections, triggering a lot of media speculation.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, whose party wants to see him in the Prime Minister House post-elections, has decided to not contest the upcoming election from any constituency of Karachi. The reasons for this decision have been left for the media to guess, but Bilawal had to face a defeat in the 2018 elections when he contested from a Lyari constituency.

Coincidentally, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, who initially set his sights on the Karachi's electoral field for the elections, has since withdrawn his nomination papers for the NA-242 constituency of Keamari. Sharif's decision aligns with his inability to secure victory in the constituency which comprises Baldia Town and its surrounding areas in the previous general elections.

This development raises questions about the perceived significance of Karachi, the commercial hub of the country, in the 2024 elections for the two major political parties.

Familial theme

Meanwhile in a unique electoral scenario, two real brothers have chosen divergent political paths, with one sibling contesting the upcoming election on a MQM-P ticket, while the other securing a PPP ticket for a Sindh Assembly constituency in Karachi.

Iftikhar Qaimkhani, a former director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority, has been awarded a ticket by MQM-Pakistan for PS-109, while PPP has fielded his brother Zulfiqar Qaimkhani from PS-103.

Read PML-N, PTI yet to make contact: PPP

Adding to the familial theme in the political fray, PTI has also awarded tickets to three brothers for National Assembly and Sindh Assembly seats. Former opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Shaikh has been awarded a PTI ticket for NA-238, his brother Aleem Adil Shaikh is PTI's candidate from NA-232, and Naeem Adil Shaikh will be in the run from PS-123.

This electoral landscape showcases a distinctive dynamic with family members representing different political entities, creating an interesting intersection of familial ties and political affiliations.

Rift between PML-N & MQM-Pakistan

Disagreements have surfaced between PML-N and MQM-Pakistan regarding the NA-242 constituency of Karachi. Shehbaz Sharif withdrew his nomination papers, passing the party ticket to Khawaja Ghulam Shoaib, while MQM-Pakistan's Mustafa Kamal has jumped into the fray from this constituency.

PML-N's Rana Mashhood has reiterated his party's commitment to avoiding further strain with the MQM-P, saying that two parties, which have already reached a seat-adjustment agreement, would focus their competition in constituencies marked by unity rather than disarray.

Shehbaz Sharif, who withdrew from the Keamari battleground, will be contesting from Lahore and Kasur constituencies of Punjab. Khawaja Ghulam Shoaib of PML-N will face MQM-P’s in the NA-242 contest.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2024.