PTI to challenge Pakistan Peoples Party in Sindh

Imran Khan to arrive in Sukkur today; few political personalities are also likely to join his party

KARACHI: Days after Bilawal Bhutto Zardari set up a camp in Larkana to devise Pakistan Peoples Party’s strategy for the upcoming local government (LG) polls in Sindh, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is preparing to challenge the PPP in its stronghold on Thursday – the day PTI chief Imran Khan will test the political waters in Sukkur during his tour.

The first phase of the LG polls in Sindh will be held in Sukkur and Larkana divisions on October 31.

During his two-day stay in the province, PTI chairman Imran Khan will visit four districts of upper Sindh including Shikarpur, Ghotki, Kashmore and Sukkur and hold meetings to organise the party. A few political personalities are also likely to join the party, which will field candidates in all the constituencies of the two divisions.

For decades, says senior journalist Sohail Sangi, the people of Sindh have had no political alternative to the PPP and of late there has been a vacuum, which can possibly be filled by PTI provided that its leadership shows sincerity to resolve the issues confronted by the people of Sindh.

“The PTI has not yet done its homework and organised itself at gross root level in rural Sindh. Sudden appearance of any leadership cannot make a difference but it needs time to get rid of status quo politics,” he said.



Still it is possible for Imran Khan’s party to win a few seats. However, the PPP might again win majority of seats in rural Sindh as there is no strong alliance against the PPP.

“There is nothing final in politics. The PPP has now stood up against the PML-N government and is coming nearer to the PTI, which is the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) arch rival. Let us see where the wind blows,” he said.

According to independent observers, the PML- N’s has got further weakened in Sindh. Neither its leadership is paying attention to Sindh’s issues nor its provincial leaders making efforts to organise party.

After coming to power, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has hardly held one meeting of the party, which is losing whatever political clout it had in the province.   Ghous Ali Shah has quit the party and Mumtaz Bhutto who had merged his Sindh National Front in the PML-N is also looking towards the PTI.

However, the PML-N’s Sindh chief Ismail Raho said the PML-N had won eight provincial assembly seats in Sindh and would make a alliance with its likeminded parties and group to emerge as largest parties in the LG election.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the PTI Sindh chapter president Nadir Akmal Leghari said the people of Sindh are tired of feudal politicians and now want change.

“Depression prevails among the masses owing to bad governance in Sindh. We are not against anyone, but want to do politics to resolve people genuine issues,” he said, adding that after Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Imran Khan has now emerged as popular leader and people of Sindh also look towards him for change.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd,  2015.