Makhdooms seem out of favour in Matiari

An independent alliance is being formed against the PPP for the upcoming elections.

MATIARI:

As the general elections draw nearer, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is finding it difficult to maintain loyalty within the ranks.

Political activities against the commerce minister, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, have begun in the district due to the lack of priority given to the community leaders and people, with party supporters and opponents trying to make an alliance against the PPP.

There are 19 Union councils in Matiari, with two seats in the provincial and one seat in the National assemblies. Faheem was elected unopposed from NA-218 and his son, Makhdoom Jamiluz Zaman, was elected from PS-43.

The district party president, Pir Amir Shah Hashmi, was elected from PS-43 in 2008 general elections.

Turn of events

This change came about after the formation of the Memon Ittehad in Matiari, led by the former district naib nazim, Haji Abdul Razzaq Memon.

Memon was an affiliate of the PPP but felt sidelined by the Makhdoom family.

This act of negligence led to Memon approaching several other communities, including Khaskheli, Abro and Nizamani, in order to set up an independent alliance. Memon is currently contacting different communities to gain support for the up coming elections and residents of the districts think it will give tough competition to the PPP.

The feeling of discontent grows stronger as people from the district complained that their issues were not resolved and that they were unable to meet Faheem, claiming he only met them during the election campaign. Sources said that Faheem’s brother, Makhdoom Khaliquz Zaman, who has been out of politics for the last four years, is most likely to replace him this time round. The former district nazim and member of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Muhammad Ali Shah Jamot is very active in the district and has been conducting meetings in different areas for the support of a possible alliance against the PPP.

Syed Shahabuddin Shah of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has also been contacting elders of various communities in the district besides nationalists who have announced to participate in the elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2012.