SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its main rival in the 2018 general elections in Sindh, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), remained engaged in tough bargaining with the influential political figures of Ghotki — the Mahar brothers — over the last two days but the latter kept a decision on their allegiance on hold for at least 24 hours.

Senior PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah on Wednesday rushed to the residence of Zabardast Mahar, a former UC nazim and close associate of Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar, apparently to inquire about his health, and discussed with him a possibility of Mahar brothers’ support for PPP in the election.

Mr Shah’s visit was seen as a last-ditch effort by the PPP to woo Mahar brothers after Sardar Mahar’s crucial meeting the previous evening with GDA chief Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi in Pir Jo Goth. The meeting fell short of an announcement about the Sardar’s decision as sources privy to the negotiations said that Sardar Mahar “almost agreed to the offer made by Pir Pagara” for supporting the anti-PPP alliance in the election.

Khursheed Shah avoided sharing details of his meeting with Zabardast Mahar, in Khanpur Mahar town of Ghotki district, but told a questioner that making alliance with any side in an election was a democratic right of every political entity.

He, however, shrugged off any adverse affect on the PPP vote bank in Ghotki and its adjoining areas if Mahar brothers did not give favour to his party. “PPP has been facing hostile alliances in the past and had been affected by none,” he remarked.

The two sides definitely discussed Mahar brothers’ support for the PPP in the presence of former MPA Abdul Razzak Mahar, Shah Nawaz Khan Mahar, Aflatoon Khan Mahar and other family members, sources said, adding that focused areas were Khangarh taluka, Salehpat and Pannu Aqil. They pointed out that the Mahars of Ghotki were not happy with the PPP over certain issues that had cropped up between them over the past couple of years.

The Tuesday evening meeting between Sardar Mahar and Pir Pagara might have prompted the top PPP leadership to stop Sardar Mahar from making a decision in haste, the sources said. Sources privy to the Pir Jo Goth meeting revealed that Pir Pagara and Sardar Mahar held a “fruitful” meeting during which the GDA chief agreed to authorise the Sardar to select and nominate all National Assembly and Sindh Assembly candidates of his choice in Ghotki and Sukkur districts. Sardar Mahar reportedly expres­sed his intention to opt for the PS-22 Pannu Aqil and/or PS-19 Ghotki (against Bari Pitafi of PPP) and contest the election from the GDA platform.

The sources said that Sardar Mahar proceeded to Pir Jo Goth on Tuesday evening amid a much-expected approach to him by some senior PPP leader on Wednesday.

Rumours were ripe that Mahar brothers might throw their weight behind the PPP anytime but after the four-hour meeting at Pir Jo Goth which ended on a happy note, Sardar Mahar effectively dispelled such an impression causing the rumours to die down.

Two other influential political figures of the area — Sardar Rahim Bukhsh Khan Bozdar and Sadruddin Shah Rashidi — were also present at the meeting.

Besides Ghotki and Sukkur, the emerging election scenario of Shikarpur district also came under review during the meeting, the sources said.

Sardar Mahar was quoted as telling local reporters that “I always do politics of principles and take a decision as per the aspirations of the people of my area”.

He did not make a statement about his allegiance with the GDA or PPP before leaving Pir Jo Goth. Nor did he hint about which side Mahar brothers collectively or individually would go with in the election.

According to the sources, Pir Pagara and Sardar Mahar also discussed differences between PPP and the influential Shaikh community of Sukkur.

The GDA chief was advised to offer certain provincial assembly seats to Mian Majan and Mohammed Ali Shaikh but a decision was put on hold until a response was received from the Shaikh community.

Later, Sardar Mahar proceeded to Sukkur and held a meeting with prominent figures of the community including Aslam Shaikh (who has resigned as the Sukkur district council chairman) and Mohammed Ali Shaikh, who was offered the PS-23 Salehpat seat.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2018