Front runners for Karachi LG elections
Pakistan
ECP plans to hold second phase of Sindh LG polls on Jan 15
KARACHI (Web Desk) - The political bigwigs contesting the upcoming local government elections in Karachi are expected to have a close contest as they will be competing not only against each other but also against other local candidates.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the Karachi chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), will be contesting for the seat of UC-8 (Al-Falah, North Nazimabad) and will be facing strong competition from Akbar Masood of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Abu Bakar Siddiq of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sahibzada Khan of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Ashraf Jabbar Qureshi, a founding member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is running for two union councils in North Nazimabad Town: UC-1 (Paposh Colony) and UC-6 (Khamosh Colony). In UC-1, Ashraf Jabbar Qureshi will face opponents such as Muhammad Nadeem of JI, Javeed Mureed Bikak of PPP and Saleem Muhammad of the MQM-P. In UC-6, he is expected to face a stiff competition from Muhammad Iqbal of JI, Rizwanuddin of MQM-P and Faisal Sheikh of PPP. Ashraf Jabbar Qureshi has a history of losing elections as he has lost eight times in by-elections for both provincial and National Assembly seats.
Syed Najmi Alam of the PPP is expected to be a candidate for mayor or deputy mayor and is currently running for vice chairman of UC-12. He is also contesting for UC-11.
Mr Alam will be facing Khurrum Sher Zaman of the PTI who is the parliamentary party leader in the provincial assembly and also elected MPA from Saddar Town.
Jamaat-e-Islami has given ticket to Maaz Liaquat, who was previously associated with the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, to contest the election. In UC-11 and UC-12, the PPP has formed an alliance with Tehreek-e-Awam Ahl-e-Sunnat for the election.
Firdous Shamim Naqvi, a member of PTI, is running for UC 2 (Soldier Bazaar). The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) has withdrawn its candidates and thrown their support behind Mr Naqvi. According to an agreement between the two parties, if Naqvi wins, the MWM’s candidate will be accommodated.
The Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) has not put forward any strong candidate. Instead, they are hoping to win a large number of seats and then have a suitable candidate on the reserved seats. The MQM-P has adopted a similar strategy.
The PPP has nominated Malik Fayaz as their candidate in Lyari. He is considered to be a strong candidate for the position of Town Council chairman. He will be competing against candidates from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and PTI. The PPP hopes to take advantage of internal divisions within the PTI, and reports indicate that PTI’s estranged MNA Shakoor Shad will support the PPP.
