With the clock ticking all the way down to the February eight normal elections, over 9 million Karachiites are eagerly ready to train their proper to franchise to elect their consultant in 22 Nationwide Meeting constituencies.
Contemplating the present political local weather within the port metropolis, which was as soon as a bastion of the Muttahida Qaumi Motion (MQM-P), observers count on a cutthroat electoral battle.
So, the bottom is ready for a titanic conflict between impartial candidates and the political heavyweights together with the MQM-P, the Pakistan Peoples Celebration Parliamentarians (PPP-P) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
The shift in dynamics bespeaks a departure from the historic stronghold of the MQM-P, which is an unmistakably pronounced truth.
As town prepares for a fierce face-off, the complexities of this deep-lobed contest are prone to unfold, shaping the varied mechanics of energy within the area.
The Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which bagged 14 NA seats out of 21 through the 2018 normal elections, was knocked out of the electoral area and the previous ruling social gathering’s ticket-holders would contest the upcoming polls as impartial candidates.
Final week, the Supreme Court docket annulled the Peshawar Excessive Court docket’s (PHC) January 10 order, depriving the previous ruling social gathering of its ‘iconic’ electoral image — the cricket bat — simply days forward of the final elections.
As per the stories round 600 candidates are within the race for 22 NA seats within the port metropolis. Following a digital census performed in 2023.
In NA-229 Malir constituency (beforehand NA-236), the PPP-P fielded Jam Abdul Karim Bijar who had received the 2018 polls. PML-N’s Qadir Bakhsh, MQM-P’s Fouzia Hameed, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) Muhammad Muhammad Eijaz, impartial candidate Muhammad Mugheri amongst 15 candidates are vying for the seat.
In NA-230 (erstwhile NA-238), the PPP-P once more awarded a ticket to Syed Rafiullah who had emerged victorious within the 2018 polls. PML-N’s Muzafar Shujra, TLP’s Muhammad Anwar, Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Celebration’s Awrangzib Faruqi, PTI backed impartial candidate Dr Masroor Sial amongst 25 candidates are within the race.
From NA-231 (previously NA-237), PML-N’s Jameel Ahmed, PTI-backed impartial candidate Khalid Mehmood Ali, and PPP-P’s Abdul Kareem Baloch amongst 26 hopefuls are contesting elections.
It’s pertinent to say right here that Ahmed who had received the 2018 elections from the constituency on the PTI’s ticket is now a candidate of the PML-N.
In NA-232 (Beforehand NA-239), PTI-supported impartial candidate Aleem Adil Sheikh, MQM-P’s Aasia Ishaque, JI’s Taufeeq Uddin Siddiqui and PML-N-backed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Pakistan’s (JUI-P) Owais Noorani are amongst 38 candidates who will attempt their luck within the polls.
From NA-233 Korangi (erstwhile NA-240), MQM-P’s Javeed Hameed, JI’s Abdul Jameel Khan, TLP’s Shehzada Shehbaz, PTI-fielded impartial candidate Advocate Haris Meo are among the many candidates.
PTI-backed impartial candidate Faheem Khan, MQM-P’s Aamir Moin Pirzada, JI’s Akhtar Hussain Qureshi, and PML-N’s Saleem Zia are amongst 20 candidates who will lock horns to win the seat from NA-234 (previously NA-241) constituency.
In the course of the 2018 normal elections, Faheem received the elections from the constituency.
From NA-235, MQM-P’s Iqbal Mahsood, PPPP’s Asif Khan, PTI-supported Saifur Rehman, and JI’s Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui amongst 24 candidates are within the discipline.
It’s pertinent to say right here that Rehman received the 2018 elections from the constituency on the PTI’s ticket.
In NA-236 (beforehand NA-243), PTI-backed Alamgir Khan, MQM-P’s Hasnat Sabir, JI’s Usama Razi, PPP-P’s Muzammil Qureshi are among the many 35 candidates.
Within the 2018 polls, the PTI founder Khan received the seat.
From NA-237 (erstwhile NA-244), MQM-P’s Rauf Siddiqui, JI’s Irfan Ahmad, PPP-P’s colonel (Retd) Asad Alam Niazi PTI backed impartial candidate Advocate Zahoor Mehsood are among the many 36 candidates. Within the earlier elections, the seat was received by PTI’s Ali Haider Zaidi.
In NA-238 (previously NA-245), robust completion is predicted amongst PTI-supported impartial candidate Haleem Adil Sheikh, MQM-P’s Sadiq Iftikhar and JI’s Saifuddin. There are 25 candidates within the discipline within the constituency.
From NA-239 (erstwhile NA246), the PPP-P fielded Nabil Gabol, the JI Fazalur Rehman Niazi and the TLP Muhammad Sharjeel Goplani. PTI-backed impartial candidate Yasir Baloch is among the many 19 candidates.
NA-240 is the newly-created constituency in Karachi’s district South after the 2023 census. MQM-P’s Arshad Vohra, PPP-P’s Saleem Mandviwalla PTI-backed Ramzan Ghanchi, and JI’s Syed Abdul Rasheed amongst 19 candidates are vying for the seat.
From NA-241 (previously NA-247), MQM-P Dr Farooq Sattar, PTI-backed impartial candidate Khurram Sher Zaman, PPP-P’s Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig amongst 38 candidates are within the discipline. The seat was received by PTI chief now President Arif Alvi through the 2018 elections.
In NA-242 (erstwhile NA-249), PPP-P’s Qadir Mandokhail, MQM-P’s Syed Mustafa Kamal, PML-N’s Khawaja Shoaib, PTI-supported impartial candidate Dawa Khan and 29 candidates are vying for the seat. In 2018, Faisal Vawda received the final elections from this constituency.
PPP-P’s Abdul Qadir Patel, MQM-P’s Humayun Usman, PTI-backed impartial candidate Shujaat Ali Khan and JI’s Sheraz Jadoon amongst 19 candidates are vying for NA-243 (previously NA-248) district Keamari constituency. Within the 2018 polls, PPP-P’s Patel emerged victorious.
From NA-244 (erstwhile NA-252), MQM-P’s Dr Farooq Sattar, PTI-supported impartial candidate Aftab Jahangir and JI’s Irfan Ahmad amongst 24 candidates are within the discipline. Within the earlier elections, the seat was received by PTI’s Jahangir.
A tricky competitors is predicted amongst MQM-P’s Hafeezuddin, JI’s Muhammad Ishaq and impartial candidate Ataullah in NA-245 (erstwhile NA-250). PTI’s Ataullah received the seat through the 2018 polls.
JI Karachi Emir and outspoken politician Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman will conflict with MQM-P chief and former minister Syed Aminul Haque through the upcoming normal elections in NA-246 (erstwhile NA-251). Haque received the seats within the final elections. There are 24 candidates within the discipline from the district west constituency.
MQM-P’s Khawaja Izharul Hassan and JI’s Munim Zafar are among the many 27 candidates from NA-247 (erstwhile NA-253). The seat was clinched by MQM-P’s Usama Qadri within the final elections.
MQM-P’s Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, JI’s Muhammad Babar Khan and PTI-supported impartial candidate Arsalan Khalid amongst 33 candidates are vying for NA-248 (erstwhile NA-254). PTI’s Muhammad Aslam received the seat within the earlier elections.
From NA-249 (erstwhile NA-255), MQM-P’s Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui and JI’s Muslim Pervaiz amongst 27 candidates are within the discipline. Beforehand, the seat was bagged by the MQM-P.
MQM-P’s Farhan Chishti, and JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman amongst 26 candidates are vying for NA-250 (erstwhile NA-256). Within the 2018 elections, PTI’s Najeeb Haroon secured the seat.
— Kiran Khan is a correspondent at Geo Information who covers political events and the election fee in Karachi.