Political turf war: NA-258 up for grabs as PPP pulls out its two-time winner

In the last two elections, PPP’s Sher Muhammad Baloch won by a landslide.

KARACHI: NA-258 will likely witness a close race between candidates of Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Muttahida Qaumi Movement in the upcoming national elections.

PPP’s Sher Muhammad Baloch won the 2002 and 2008 elections in NA 258 by a landslide. Sher defeated Abdul Hakeem Baloch, who contested as an independent candidate in 2002 and is now contesting on the ticket of PML-N, with a margin of over 10,000 votes.



In 2008, Sher secured his victory with 134,696 votes. The runner-up, Nisar Ahmed Sher of MQM, was able to get just over 15,000 votes. This time around, the PPP has awarded its ticket to Abdul Razzaq Raja due to the Sher’s ill-health.

In total, 29 candidates are contesting on NA 258, .

PS 97

Parts of Gadap Town’s Manghopir and Songal of district West fall within this provincial seat, which is being contended by Hafiz Abdul Berr of PML-N, Sheikh Abdullah of MQM, Muhammad Jumman Darwan of PPPP and others.

PS 128

This provincial seat, which slightly overlaps with provincial assembly constituencies in NA-255 and NA-257, covers areas of Landhi Town, including Muslimabad Colony, Labour Colony, Dawood Challi, Moinabad and parts of Bhutto Nagar, of district east.

Amanullah Khan Masood of ANP who won the 2008 election from this seat will contest this year against Sultan Muhammad Khan of PML-N, Shah Jahan of PPPP, Moulana Aurangzaib Farooqi of the Muttahida Deeni Mahaz,  and others.

PS 129

Bin Qasim Town, Ibrahim Haideri, Quaidabad, Qadafi Town, Cattle Colony, Landhi Town, Muzaffarabad and Majeed Colony fall under this provincial seat.

In 2002, the total number of registered voters was 124,409 with a 38 per cent turnout while in 2008, total registered voters were 208,556 with a 30.99 per cent turnout. Shafi Muhammad Jamot, who contested as an independent candidate in 2002, won from this seat in 2002 and Haji Muzaffar Ali Shajra of PPPP secured most votes in 2008.

PPPP’ Muhammad Rafique, PML-Q’s Haleem Adil Shaikh, PML-N’s Shafi Muhammad Jamot and PTI’s Ghulam Mustafaare among those contesting on PS 129.

PS 130

PS-130 consists of Gadap, Kathore, Deh Thano, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Steel Town and Deh Joreji of Bin Qasim Town. In 2002, total registered voters were 112,259 with 42.30 percent voters’ turn out. In 2008, total registered voters were 172,986 with 47.84 percent voters.

PPPP’s former Sindh minister, Muhammad Sajid Jokhio, will contest for this seat along with an independent candidate Muhammad Saleem Baloch and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2013.

Correction: In an earlier version of the article, the headline incorrectly mentioned "NA-258" as "NA-285". The error is regretted.