NA-218 always dominated by Amin Fahim

The electioneering in constituency NA-218 (Matiari-cum-Hyderabad) Old Hyderabad-I has gained full momentum in Matiari, Hala and Saeedabad towns and the adjoining villages as the contesting candidates have started establishing election offices, holding corner meetings and displaying banners and posters in the constituency.
Though total 11 candidates are in the field, the results of past general elections have shown that the family called Makhdooms always had been in dominating position in the area since 1970, except 1985 general elections which were conducted on non-party basis, and Shahabuddin Shah was elected from the area.
The senior vice chairman Pakistan People's Party, Amin Fahim, has registered five times victory from this National Assembly constituency and now all eyes are set on whether he could made 'double hat trick' by winning the 2008 election from this constituency or not.
Though the past rival of Amin, Muhammad Shah, is also in the field, the statistics of the previous results show that Amin had registered victory with thumping majority against him.
Besides Muhammad Shah, the political parties including PML (N), MMA, MQM and PPP (SB) have also fielded Shahnawaz Qureshi, Wali Muhammad, Fateh Muhammad Rajput and Piral Majeedani as their candidates respectively while Allah Dino Hajano, Engineer Allah Warayo Khaskheli, Bachal Shah Lakiari, Ghulam Shabbir Shah and Rajab Ali Noopoto are also in the field.
According to past results, Amin had clinched the victory from this constituency in 1988 general elections with 52,462 votes against Shahabuddin Shah, who secured 17,024 votes. In 1990 general elections, Amin again succeeded from this constituency with 50154 votes while his rival Shah Muhammad Shah, contesting on PNP ticket, bagged 14733 votes, and Shahabuddin Shah got only 1025 votes.
In 1993 general elections, Amin performed hat trick by winning the election on third consecutive election. This time, he was elected unopposed. In 1997 general elections, victory again went in favour of Amin Fahim. However, he secured 40743 votes, less than previous elections. Shahnawaz Qureshi got 18187 votes, Shahabuddin Shah 5639 votes and Muhammad Shah got only 1816 votes.
In 2002 general elections, Amin Fahim registered fifth victory from this constituency and bagged record 102,059 votes. Rasool Bux Memon of MQM got 3615 votes, Shahabuddin Shah of PML (Q) secured 32 77 votes and Peeral Majeedano of PPP (SB) secured 3168 votes.
For General Elections 2008, Amin Fahim and other candidates have started approaching community heads and the 264346 voters, including 145340 male and 117006 female voters, to get sympathies in their favour. The public meeting of Benazir Bhutto on December 17 in Hyderabad also boosted the electioneering not only in Hyderabad but also in other districts.