Bozdar withdraws ‘out of respect for Shah’

Protests erupt in Sukkur after PPPP awards ticket to Ikramullah Dharejo at PS-3.

SUKKUR: Elections are not only about whether you’re given a party ticket but also who else is getting one - in Sukkur, the nomination of Jam Ikramullah Dharjeo at PS-3 by the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) stirred up protests by the party’s jiyalas. Soon after the announcement, a large number of protesters, including party members, protested in Panu Aqil and a number of PPPP leaders, including Ghulam Mustafa Bozdar, announced to contest the elections against Ikramullah. It appears, however, that Khursheed Shah was able to use his influence as a veteran politician to convince Bozdar from withdrawing his candidature at PS-3.

According to reports, Ikramullah was awarded the party ticket as the people and party workers in Panu Aqil were not happy with the performance of his brother, Jam Saifullah Dharejo. But the protests made it clear that the people did not want either of the Dharejo brothers contesting from their constituency.

Bozdar was among the PPPP jiyalas - Badar Samejo, Dr Aftab Soomro and Sardar Taqi Dharejo - who announced to contest the elections against Ikramullah, but “out of respect of Khursheed Shah’s visits to his home” he has consented to withdraw his candidature.

Rifts with the Dharejos                   

Talking to The Express Tribune, Ghulam Mustafa Bozdar expressed his anger over awarding a ticket to Jam Ikramullah Dharejo. “The Dharejos belong to Ghotki and we don’t understand why the party leadership has awarded tickets to them in Sukkur,” said Bozdar. “In 2008, Saifullah Dharejo was awarded party ticket at PS-3 in Sukkur, despite our opposition and he never visited his constituency during the last five years.”



He accused Saifullah and his brother Ikramullah of ‘selling’ jobs to the needy people of the area. “He [Saifullah] even used to take money for transferring irrigation officials. I have only withdrawn out of respect for Khursheed Shah - I have no interest with Ikramullah.”

Sukkur political scenario

Commenting on the overall political scenario in Sukkur, senior political analyst Mumtaz Bukhari said that PPPP might lose PS-3 due to the internal rifts between party workers. He, however, opined that the two seats of National Assembly in Sukkur - NA-198 being contested by Nauman Islam Shaikh and NA-199 by Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah - will be won by PPPP.

Regarding the ticket awarded to Haji Anwar Mahar at PS-1, he said that there are rumors that PPPP is fielding a weak candidate so that the candidate by Muttahida Qaumi Movement could win the sear. But, these are mere rumors and nothing concrete has come in the light.

According to him, the ticket at PS-4 in Sukkur has been given to Awais Qadir Shah, the nephew and son-in-law of Khursheed Shah.

Who are the front runners?

Bukhari said that the 10-party alliance could potentially give PPPP a tough time at PS-2 and PS-3 in Sukkur. “It will be very hard for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to win seats in Sukkur as the vote bank of the PPPP has increased due to the influx of rural population in Sukkur. Also, a considerable number of Urdu-speaking families have moved to Karachi, slashing down the vote bank of MQM.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2013.