PML-Q’s Likeminded’s Arbab Ghulam Rahim NA-229 (Tharparkar-I)
Officially, no political party has finalised its candidates for National or provincial Assembly constituencies in Sindh, albeit aspirants are collecting nomination papers in droves.
Sindh is believed to be the stronghold of the PPP – but political observers believe that the party could face serious challenge in some constituencies of rural Sindh, especially Tharparkar, Naushahro Feroze, Dadu, Khairpur Mirs, Sanghar and Shikarpur.
Two former chief ministers – Dr Abrab Ghulam Rahim in Thar and Liaquat Ali Jatoi in Dadu – pose a serious threat to the PPP where they have decided to contest both National as well as provincial assembly seats.
“I will give up politics if the PPP could win even a single seat from Thar,” Rahim, who heads the Likeminded faction of PML-Q, told The Express Tribune. “In 2008, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto had created a lot of sympathy votes for PPP – but still the party could not dent the PML-Q’s popularity in Thar,” he added.
Arbab Rahim said that his party has almost finalised candidates for two national and four provincial assembly seats in Thar. Arbab Rahim will run for NA-229 (Tharparkar-I), while the nominee for the 2nd National Assembly seat will hopefully be finalised today (Tuesday).
Similarly, Arbab Khan Sahib Toghachi will be PML-Q (Likeminded) candidate for PS-60, former provincial minister Arbab Naimutullah for PS-61, former district nazim Arbab Anwar for PS-62 and former MPA Razzaque Rahimoon for PS-63.
The PML-Q deferred award of party ticket for NA-230 (Tharparkar II) because Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi also plans to run for it.
“Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who belongs to a spiritual family, has large following in Thar. I hope our party will make a decision [on fielding a candidate] in consultation with Qureshi,” Rahimoon told The Express Tribune.
In Dadu, the PML-N has awarded ticket to former chief minister Liaquat Jatoi and his brother Sadaqat Jatoi for NA-233 (KN Shah) and PS-76 (KN Shah). Though the PPP has yet not finalised its candidates for Dadu, Barrister Pir Mujeebul Haq, Aziz Junejo and Imran Zaffar Leghari got nomination forms on Monday.
“Our party has yet not finalised candidates, but my son, not me, will contest the provincial election,” Pir Mazharul Haq, father of Barrister Pir Mujeebul Haq, told The Express Tribune. PPP sources said that Murad Ali Shah would run for PS-73 (Sehwan) – and that he has already got nomination papers.
President Asif Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur also plans to run for NA-207, (Larkana). PML-N’s Ameer Bux Bhutto, the son of Mumtaz Bhutto, has announced that he would face Talpur in the constituency. “This seat belonged to the Bhutto family, not the Talpurs or the Zardaris,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2013.
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We are with you Barrister Pir Mujeeb! Young, educated and dedicated worker.
Best Wishes bro!
Good stuff by league alliance . Every seat counts!