PML-N’s Raheela Shar said the media is prevented from covering her political activities.
GHOTKI: In an area where sardars boast of male domination, Raheela Shar is all set to become the first woman in the history of Ghotki to contest elections.
Shar, presently the district president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) women wing, is preparing herself to compete with Ghotki’s traditional sardars for the National Assembly (NA)-200 constituency. Though the PML-N has yet to select her officially as the party’s candidate from NA-200, Shar is the only candidate willing to participate in the elections against the sardars.
Despite the presence of a large number of political families, not a single female member of these powerhouses has ever been part of the national or provincial assemblies.
Raja Mujeeb, a social activist who focuses on violence against women, had said earlier that the ‘sardar culture’ poses a hurdle. “You can see two or four sardars in a district but we have 12 sardars. They dominate politics. They do not support their own women to participate in politics, then how can they encourage others? I do not see how any of them can break this barrier.”
A mother of five daughters, Shar observed that karo-kari and lack of facilities for education and health are some of the pressing issues in this area. “The chief of different tribes have been in power for several years but they are not serious to resolve these basic issues and to bring any visible changes in Ghotki,” she said.
Entering politics has not been easy for Shar. “They [Sardars] even stop media persons from covering my political activities,” she told daily Sindh Express. Shar believed that only women can make her success possible.
The competition
NA-200 comprises three major talukas - Mirpur Mathelo, Ubauro and Daharki. Mian Abdul Haque alias Mian Mitho contested from this constituency as a candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and defeated former Sindh chief minister Ali Muhammad Mahar and former state minister Khalid Ahmed Lund.
An official said that after Mitho’s alleged involvement in the famous conversion case of Rinkle Kumari, the PPP will not give him a ticket from this constituency. He added that Mitho will be contesting as an independent candidate against PPP’s likely candidate, Khalid Ahmed Lund. Mitho’s supporters claimed that he has carried out several development works and will easily defeat any candidate.
After the Sindh Peoples Local Government Act, the support for the PML-F has also increased, and the party’s Pir Abdul Khalique of Bhurchundi Sharif is expected to give tough competition to the PPP candidate.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s Ghulam Rasool Farooqui will contest from this constituency. “Lund will learn how to contest the elections now,” Farooqui said. “He abandoned the people during the floods.”
Another important candidate that Shar will have to look out for is Sardar Taj Muhammad Domki, the provincial president of PPP-Shaheed Bhutto. Domki is also the tribal chief of Gabol, Gadani and Golato tribes.
Sardar Sher Yar Shar of the National Peoples Party is another strong candidate, who is sure that the PTI and PML-F will support him against the PPP candidate. Since there is a lack of political alliance among the opposition parties, Lund appears to be the strongest candidate so far. If parties, such as PML-N, PML-F, PTI, National Peoples Party and Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan, formulate a strategy and agree on a joint candidate, they can give Lund a tough time in the upcoming polls.
The following candidates are likely to contest from NA-200:
Pakistan Peoples Party Khalid Ahmed Lund
Pakistan Muslim League - Functional Pir Abdul Khalique
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf Ghulam Rasool Farooqui
Pakistan Peoples Party Shaheed Bhutto Sardar Taj Muhammad Domki
National Peoples Party Sardar Sher Yar Shar
Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz Raheela Shar
Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Muhammad Ishaque Laghari
Independent Candidate Mian Abdul Haque alias Mian Mitho
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (5)
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Sooner than later somebody has to come forward and do away with the shackles of slavery, suppression and oppression. I wish her best of luck. Miss Shar really has shown guts and courage when she comes forward to confront those "Sardars" and "Waderas". Get going! God bless you with your noble cause Ma'am..!!
Wish her all the best. We need more female participation in the parliament, particularly from Sindh.
A really very courageous daughter of Pakistan. She has the welfare of the constituency in her heart and wants the poor and neglected villagers to progress with all facilities. PMLN chief Nawaz must give her his full support and sideline the sardars. Salams to Raheela Shar and Godspeed for 2013.
All the best and GOOD LUCK.
"“Lund will learn how to contest the elections now,” Farooqui said."
HAHAHAAha I dont know what to say :), sounds really funny.