Residents complain political leaders disappeared right after they secured seats in the previous elections.
Karachi may not be bustling with election activity, but NA-239 is one of the few constituencies where it is relatively safe for political parties to carry out their campaigns. The past few weeks have seen a steady growth in the number of election offices and party flags.
The constituency has a majority of Pashtun residents, especially in Sultanabad, Docks Colony, Mohammadi Colony, Jackson Bazaar, Saeedabad, Umer Farooq Colony, Ittehad Town, Tashkand Colony and Gulshan-e-Sikandarabad, but it has various other communities as well. The neighbourhoods of Baba Island, Bhit Island, Gabopat, Grex Village have a predominant Katchi majority, and most people are associated with the fishing business.
Meanwhile, the Urdu-speakers are mostly based in Ranghar Muhalla, Musharraf Colony, Qaim Khani Colony of Baldia Town, but these areas have a large number of Pashtuns as well. The neighbourhoods of Hassan Goth, Musharraf Colony of Mauripur, 500 Quarters have a majority of Baloch residents.
Pakistan’s largest seaport, Karachi Port, and its largest fish market falls within this constituency - these two markets being the biggest employers in the constituency as well. It also holds some of the oldest neighbourhoods of the city.
A majority of the residents belong to the lower-middle class, except for Lalazar - one of the elitist neighbourhoods in Karachi. There are 25 government schools and three government colleges, but only five government-run dispensaries. Only 60 per cent of the residents have access to drinking water, even though NA-239 has several coastal areas, including Mauripur and Manora cantonment.
The residents are, however, upset with the previous government. “Politicians disappear after they get into the parliament,” complained Zaman Chagharzai, a resident of Keamari. “Most of our areas don’t have drinking water or drainage - our streets look like a river every time it rains.”
According to Chagharzai, the government started water treatment plants, but they were left incomplete. “The former MNA has started repairing roads now to get votes.”
It is also one of the three NA constituencies that were recently redrawn by the election commission. This did not sit well with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) or the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) - both of whom feared losing on votes - and went to court against the decision on which the judgement has been reserved. By redrawing the constituency, the election commission has added certain areas, such as Pashtun-dominated Shireen Jinnah Colony and Generalabad from district South.
Fight for the seats
Due to its varied ethnic composition, the NA-239 has always showed varied results in the elections. In the 2002 elections, Hakim Qari Gul Rehman won the seat on a Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal ticket while PPP’s Iftikhar Hussain came second. In the following elections in 2008, PPP’s Abdul Qadir Patel - who was enjoying the support of the Awami National Party (ANP) at the time - managed to secure the seat while the MQM came second.As a member of the Katchi community, Patel kicked off his political career in 1993, winning the Sindh Assembly seat from Lyari on a PPP ticket in the by-elections. He defeated PPP-Shaheed Bhutto’s Ali Muhammad Hingoro. Even though, Patel has secured a PPP ticket once again for the upcoming elections, his vote bank will be split with independent candidate Muhammad Younas. As a leader of the fishermen, Younas is quite popular within the Katchi community.
Salman Mujahid Baloch will be contesting on the MQM ticket, but he has weak support in neighbourhoods that fall within PS-89. He can, however, put up tough competition in the areas that fall within PS-90.
In Keamari, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam - Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F)’s Qazi Fakhrul Hassan is strong but he has meagre support in the rest of the constituency. Hassan would have been able to secure some Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) votes, but Qadir Khan Mandokhel has claimed the party’s ticket. Nevertheless, Hassan is a prayer leader of Pathan Masjid and may use that forum to garner votes.
ANP Sindh is fielding its candidate for the first time on NA-239. Sarfaraz Jadoon, the ANP candidate, may give a tough fight to Patel as he has the support of Pashtuns in both PS-89 and PS-90. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) candidate, Subhan Ali Sahil, does not have as much support to beat Patel, Hassan or even Baloch.
PS-89
Syed Dilawar Shah (PPP)
Saleem Khan Jadoon (ANP)
Humayun Muhammad Khan (PML-N)
Haji Ali Muhammad (MQM)
Dr Hussainuddin Afridi (PTI)
This provincial constituency within NA-239 covers Muhammadi Colony, Baba Island, Bhit Island, Manora Cantonment, Sultanabad, Gulshan-e-Sikandarabad, Jackson, Masan, Docks Colony and Lalazar. PS-89 has always remained a home to the Pakistan Peoples Party with former transport minister Akhtar Hussain Jadoon securing the seat consecutively in the past two elections. This time around, the party has however awarded its ticket to Syed Dilawar Shah. ANP’s Saleem Khan Jadoon may give a tough competition to Shah since he enjoys a significantly larger Pashtun support – especially after the recent addition of Pashtun-dominated neighbourhoods. Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s Humayun Muhammad Khan will also put up a strong fight. MQM is fielding Haji Ali Muhammad on the seat, but it has very little support within PS-89.
PS-90
Liaquat Askani (PPP)
Saifullah Afridi (ANP)
Yousuf Shahwani (MQM)
Mohammad Ameer Tariq (JI)
The second provincial assembly constituency within NA-239 includes Saeedabad, Nai Abadi, Hassan Goth, Umer Farooq Colony, Navel Colony, Qaim Khani Colony, New Saeedabad, Gabopat, PAF-Base Masroor and Grex village.In the 2002 elections, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s Umer Sadiq won this seat, but he was replaced by Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto in 2008. This time the PPP has awarded its ticket to Liaquat Askani, who has the backing of Lyari’s Amn Committee and is considered a strong candidate against Awami National Party’s Saifullah Afridi and Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Yousuf Shahwani. Mohammad Ameer Tariq will contest on the ticket of JI but the main competition will be between PPP, ANP and MQM.
Down memory lane
Anwar Ali, a 65-year-old resident of Masan, has been witnessing the political ups and downs in NA-239 for more than four decades. For Ali, the trends of political campaigning have changed in the past decade.
“Earlier, the politicians used to ask for votes in the name of development, but now they use peace and security as an enticement to secure votes,” he remembered. “Leaders, such as Benazir Bhutto, Farooq Sattar, Begum Nasim Wali Khan used to come to our area and hold rallies but now the big politicians avoid such rallies.”
Ali recalled Benazir passing the roads of Keamari on a truck from Bilawal House, and Farooq Sattar holding a rally in Gulshan-e-Sikandarabad.
“Earlier, I could move around the city with a party flag and a cap on my head,” he said. “But now I think I will be shot dead if I do so.” Ali regrets that people are no longer able to hoist party flags on their homes. “Flags are now only limited to electric poles and street lights.” In his youth, Ali and his friends had much more enthusiasm for the elections. People would walk all the way to Banaras to attend political rallies, he added.
Previous election results
2008
NA-239
Abdul Qadir Patel - 56,840 votes
Dr Mujahid Baloch - 24,013 votes
2002
NA-239
Qari Gul Rehman - 22,164 votes
Iftikhar Hussain - 21,164 votes
Constituent Areas (Area 50 square km)
Saeedabad | New Saeedabd | Naiabadi | Hassan Goth | Umer Farooq Colony | Navel Colony | Qaim Khani Colony | Ittehad Town | PAF-Base Masoor | Gabopat | PAF-Base Masroor | Grex Village | Mohammadi Colony | Baba Island | Bhit Island | Manora Cantonment | Sultanabad | Gulshan-e-Sikandarabad | Jackson Bazar | Masan | Docks Colony | Lalazar
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (7)
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My residence falls in Lalazar area and I will be voting for Subhan Ali Sahil of PTI for National Assembly and Dr Hussainuddin Afridi again a PTI candidate on PS 89, along with my whole family. PTI all the way.
@Kutchi, Thanks for the insight in that area, you mistook my comment. I dont know much about that area, I was just refuting Mr Sindhis thought, he said and I qoute "UC has been strong hold of local Sindhi for before the partition." His whole comment was based on the fact thats well over 60 years old, (again I dont say that on my own , he himself mentions the time frame). I didnt make any stereo typing comment, you are doing it my friend, I am not sure about the accuracy of the ETs report, but you mention that Sindhis in large quantity live in defence and clifton which have been ignored by ET in this report, might i remind you this report is just on NA 239, which doesnt include any part of DHA ! just because the title says its by the sea doesnt necessarily means its speaking of all the constituencies by the sea. (again you may be right that Sindhi are in majority here, but theres a fault in the premises of your argument that since Sindhis in large number live in DHA and Clifton, NA 239 should have majority). So one word for you Relax! Even if ET misreports, it wont change the voting pattern or the demographics of that area.
@Katchi: I don't know the area much but found your comment very insightful.
@ Katchi. good analysis. you have correctly pinpointed presenting facts!!!
@Syedpk
We proudly announce that the Katchis are local Sindhis. Soomras, Katri, hingoras and mandhras are living in Lyari and its adjoining areas i.e. Hingorabad, Baba Bhit, Manora, Keamari, tower and Kharadar etc. They all are Sindhis. I request you people please go and look into the facts visiting field instead of working on table stories and making irrational analayis. I want point out reality here that hundreds of thousands Sindhs have migrated from rural areas to Karachi in last ten to 15 years where they have established their localities which have now been leased out by the PPP government. 60 to 70 per cent Sindhs are living in Clifton and DHA alone, but poor reporting did not even count them. I advise ET team to conduct an independent survey hope you will find lots of labour class sindhis in Karachi be they are cashiers on pumps, security guards, workers at garment factories and large number of people in government, semi government and private jobs in this capital of Sindh.(Dear Syed, ground realities have now been changed . Stop making sterotype comment). Gabo Pat, Saleh Pat and many sub-urban areas of Keamari towns are those localities where hardly one can find any Urdu and Pasho speaking man or woman. All living there are Sindhis representing their pure culture language where Sindhi culture is still very much alive. I also originally come from Saleh Pat and Gabo Pat areas. Please explore the things rather giving irrational input.
Jeay Sindh
@ Sindhi, Do you realize that this is 21st century, and the so called important facts that you are mentioning are well over 60 years old ! I am no political analyst but I can safely say it wont have any effect on 2013 elections. By the way if you get time then try to go around these goths and you will see 90% of the goths in Karachi are now pakhtun dominated areas. Get your news personally dude, and not from Shaam jo akhbar.
ill information and facts have been distorted. 60 per cent Sindhi are living in Hassan Goth and around per cent 40 per cent Sindhi in Baba Bhit and Gabo pat UC has been strong hold of local Sindhi for before the partition. It seems that reporter is ill informed has reported while sitting in news room.