In-fighting: Elections pitch brothers against one another

Candidates express the hope that their rivals will withdraw nominations.

SUKKUR: A number of candidates will stand against their brothers in the upcoming elections in Thull, Jacobabad.

Shafiq Ahmed Khoso of Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) will face his elder brother, Mir Hassan Khoso of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) for NA-209 Thull. “PML-N leadership has told me to file the nomination papers and start campaigning,” said Shafiq. “The party has an alliance with the PML-F and other nationalist parties which is why I am hopeful that my brother will withdraw his candidature and support me,” he added.

Hassan feels, however, that his younger brother will not contest elections against him and cited the same reason for thinking so. “PML-F has alliance with PML-N, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam and other nationalist parties and therefore I am hopeful that PML-N will withdraw its candidate,” he explained. He also expressed the hope that the election commission would succeed in its endeavours to ensure that the elections are free and fair.

Dr Suhrab Sarki of the Pakistan People’s Party will face his elder brother Sardar Zulfiqar Sarki of PML-F for PS-15 Thull. Zulfiqar Sarki told The Express Tribune that he was hoping his brother would withdraw his candidature and fight the elections with him. Dr Suhrab Sarki is, however, committed to fighting the elections against his brother. “I have been contesting elections and winning this seat since 1993,” he said. He alleged that he would win the elections because his “position was very strong”.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2013.