‘Old wine in old bottles’

Dynastic politics stays as GDA, PPP and other parties award tickets to the kith and kind of leaders

KARACHI:

Once again the dynastic politics in Sindh is showcasing the same leaders and their family members who have almost completed their working to contest the upcoming general elections.

According to the final list of the candidates announced by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and other parties and groups, the kith and kins of the party leaders are contesting the polls from different areas of the province.

As per the details, the PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto will contest from three areas including Larkana, Kamber Shahdadkot and Lahore. His father Asif Ali Zardari and aunt Faryal Talpur will contest the elections from Larkana. However, the party has given the ticket to Azra Fazal Pechuho, another sister of Asif Ali Zardar to contest the election from Nawabshah. Mir Nunawar Talpur, husband of Faryal Talpur has submitted the nomination papers in his home district Mirpurkhas.

Three members of the Makhdoom family of Hala have been given the party ticket. Makhdoom Jameel ul Zaman would contest for the national assembly seat, while his son Makhdoom Mehbood ul Zaman and nephew Fakhar Zaman have submitted the nomination papers for the provincial assembly seat from the Hala.

Similarly, the election commission record revealed that PPP senior leader Khursheed Shah got the party ticket for a national assembly seat while his son Syed Farukh Shah and son in law Awais Shah have been awarded the party tickets for the provincial assembly seats. Awais Shah served as transport minister in previous cabinet of Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Read: PPP 'sole contender in Punjab fray': Bilawal

The Halar Wasan son of Manzoor Wasan, former home minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and his daughter Nafeesa Shah would be contesting as PPP candidates in the coming election.

Nawab Yousaf Talpur, a senior PPP leader and his son Taimour Talpur would contest the poll from national and provincial assembly seats of Umerkot district.

The party has also allotted the seat to Shahyar Mahar son of Ghous Bux Mahar who recently joined the party.

The two brothers of Chandio tribe, Nawab Sardar Chandio and Nawab Burhan Chandio have also been awarded the tickets to contest the provincial assembly seats from Kamber Shahdadkot district.

Sherazi brothers of Thatta Ayaz Shah and Riaz Shah would be contesting the election on PPP ticket from Thatta.

Three family members of the Mahar clan of Ghotki who recently joined the PPP have also been given the tickets. Ali Gohar Mahar and his brother Ali Nawaz Mahar who were earlier affiliated with GDA would contest from national assembly and provincial assembly seats. However, their cousin Mohammad Bux Mahar who also happens to be the chief of Mahar tribe has been awarded Sindh Assembly seat.

PPP is not alone when it comes to dynatics politics. The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) led by Pir Pagara has also given the tickets to the same family members who have been contesting the polls for years in Sindh.

Three members of Mirza family of Badin including Zulfikar Mirza, former home minister, Fahmida Mirza former speaker of national assembly and their son Husnain Mirza are aspiring candidates of GDA for national and Sindh Assembly seats.

Similarly, Sadaruddin Shah Rashid, brother of Pir Pagara who happens to be president of PML-F, son of Pir Pagara Pir Syed Rashid Rashdi have been given the tickets.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2024.