Karachi may be the political fortress of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), but winning the NA-250 constituency has never been a done deal, even for that party.
In the past three general elections, this constituency has been bagged by three different parties.
None of the winners have ever amassed a lead of 10,000 votes or more over the competition, in a city where candidates commonly sweep the field by margins exceeding 100,000 votes. Voter turnout in this constituency has typically also not been much to write home about.
Consequently, when the winning margins of each of the two most recent elections is considered as a percentage of total registered voters in the constituency; they muster a measly one percent and two percent, for the 2002 and 2008 General Elections, respectively.
While it remains to be seen whether voter turnout will improve significantly, this time around; there is no shortage of candidates in the constituency. On 11 May, there will be no fewer than 32 candidates vying for votes here.
Even before people head to the polls, the field has seen some major changes. Former President Pervez Musharafs dreams of getting elected from this moderately enlightened constituency were cut short when his nomination forms were chucked by the returning officer.
Following his disqualification, Fouzia Siddiqui - the sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui - also decided to withdraw her candidacy from NA-250.
Among the notable contenders who stand no chance of winning, is Advocate Javed Chhatari. The lawyer who famously defended members of a family framed by heroine smugglers is hoping all that airtime will help him get a place in the national legislature.
Saleem Zia, the Senior Vice President of PML-N Sindh is also unlikely to make much of a bang in the constituency, despite his personal stature and repute in the area.
But the real fight will be between candidates of the mainstream political parties; and each of them is fielding a heavy weight in NA-250.
MQMs Khushbakht Shujaat has been allotted a ticket to this constituency once again, after she successfully defeated PPPs Ikhtiar Beg here, back in 2008.
Jamaat-e-Islami must also be quite hopeful of bagging this National Assembly seat as that party has opted to field former mayor of Karachi Niamatullah Khan from NA-250.
And then there is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insafs founding member and Secretary General Arif Alvi. The dentist turned politician has been campaigning here for well over a decade and will definitely be hungry for votes on 11 May.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.