HYDERABAD, Dec 25: President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Hala on Tuesday may politically benefit the Makhdooms, put into an uncomfortable position by their allies by forming a local political alliance.

In his first visit to the Makhdooms house in Hala on Tuesday, he spoke to a gathering of notables, including local politicians, parliamentarians of the Pakistan People’s Party, ministers Naveed Qamar, Pir Mazharul Haque and Syed Murad Ali Shah.

He praised the Makhdooms in the light of their long association with the PPP since their father, Makhdoom Mohamm-ad Zaman Talibul Maula, joined the PPP. He said Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Amin Fahim’s son Jamiluz-zaman would together serve the people of Hala. He said the PPP would get votes on the basis of its performance. Host Amin Fahim, his brother Dr Rafiquzzaman and Jamiluz-zaman were also present.

Mr Fahim had reached Hala on Monday night. It was his first appearance in his hometown after the formation of the Awami Ittehad Alliance, formed recently against the Makhdooms by local politicians associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and other parties.

A 30-member delegation of notables and local politicians also called on the president. They included Sajjadanasheen of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai’s shrine Syed Nisar Hussain Shah.

It is also learnt that former PML-F MPA Jalal Shah Jamote announced joining the PPP in the president’s presence. Dada Hashim Samoon – who has joined the Awami Ittehad Matiari – also announced his support for the Makhdooms. Others who announced their support for them included Jiandal Shah, a relative of Syed Shah Mohammad Shah, senior vice president of the Sindh United Party. SUP local leaders are also part of the alliance. Likewise, Sarfaraz Rahu, son of Nazeer Rahu, a close aide of Amin Fahim, attended the lunch though his father did not.

“Our alliance is intact,” says Mohammad Ali Shah Jamote, convener of the alliance.

According to him, Dada Hashim Samoon was pressured by Hyderabad SSP Farid Jan Sarhandi to announce his support for the Makhdooms. “He did it accordingly as he had no other option,” he adds. He says Jalal Shah Jamote joined the PPP considering that he would contest for PS-44, which Jalal Shah had won in 2002. Raees Nazeer Rahu, Raees Ali Ahmed Nizamani, once trusted men of the Makhdooms, did not attend the function.—Staff Correspondent