Bhai bhai na raha!: Political loyalties break family bond

Brothers Mir Hasan and Shafiq Khoso have broken ties since the latter joined PML-N.

THUL: Differences in political allegiances have created rifts between two brothers – so much so that they don’t even want to meet each other now. Shafiq Khoso, the younger brother of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Mir Hasan Khan Khoso recently joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the move has not gone down well with his elder brother.

“The community and the supporters are with me. My younger brother can’t stand before me,” said the frustrated PPP stalwart while addressing a press conference along with other tribal elders on Thursday.

“He will not contest the election against me because I am just like his father,” claimed Mir Hasan. “Shafiq has joined the Muslim league alone.”

Mir Hasan believed that some elements had created rifts within the family, but the “conspirators will gain nothing”. The PPP leader also said that Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah had approved a water project for the city which will be completed soon.

Both the brothers have started political campaigns against each other on the PS-15 constituency and even for the NA-209. They have also contacted their community elders and friends for support.

Shafiq, a former education secretary, has locked up the family’s bungalow and hoisted the flag of PML-N. Their families have also stopped visiting each other.

Talking to the Daily Sindh Express, Shafiq said that he would contest elections for the NA-209 constituency from the PML-N side.

“The PPP will not give a ticket to my brother this time,” he claimed. “He is an aged person now. I advise him to say goodbye to politics and rest at home.”

He said that the Thul coalition would remain intact, and he would support Dr Sohrab Sarki at PS-15. “The PML-N is a pro-people party and I joined it because of its vision. The PPP has not provided relief to common people,” he added.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif will attend a rally in Thul soon, Shafiq said.

Dr Sarki as a candidate of the PML-Q lost his seat in the 2008 elections against Mir Hasan but later on joined the PPP.

Sources in the ruling party said that Dr Sarki will be given a ticket on the PS-15 by the PPP while Mir Hasan will contest election from NA-209.

The Thull Ittehad consisting of Burira, Banglani, Soomro, Bangar, Noonari, Channa, Maher and Bhutto clans is a strong coalition platform and a candidate needs its support to win the election. Shafiq has joined politics for the first time and the competition with his aged jiyala brother will be tough.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2012.