HYDERABAD: The by-poll in NA-205 of Ghotki remained by and large peaceful on Tuesday as soldiers were deployed inside polling stations in entire constituency for maintenance of law and order by Election Commission of Pakistan.

Unofficial reports said that Pakistan Peoples Party’s candidate Sardar Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar was having a lead of 10,000 votes over his rival and maternal nephew Ahmed Ali Khan Mahar, who was contesting as independent candidate but with support of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Grand Democratic Alliance.

Polling started at 8am and continued till 5pm peacefully. Unofficial results of 140 polling stations out of 290 showed that Mohammad Bux Mahar had secured 39,000 votes and his nephew Ahmed Ali Khan Mahar 29,000 votes till filing of this report at 11pm. Vote count was under way.

Unofficial results show PPP candidate in the lead

Reports said that Ahmed Ali Mahar had lost in polling stations located near his home and Gohar Palace in Khangarh taluka where homes of Mahars are located. Another polling station where he is said to have lost is Alam Gadani located in the vicinity of his home. Another two polling stations lost by Ahmed Ali Khan Mahar are known as Mottan Khan Mahar. “These polling stations are considered ‘home polling stations’ of Ali Gohar Mahar”, said a journalist.

Haleem booked

Jarwar police booked PTI’s parliamentary leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh for raising obstruction in official discharge of duties of police. He was booked under sections 353, 186, 176, 171-4, 147 and 149 of PPC at Jarwar police station. He had uploaded a video on social media showing his altercation with police.

Reports said that Sheikh’s claim was that police were “harassing” voters of independent candidate Ahmed Ali Khan Mahar. When he questioned it, this led to an unpleasant situation and he was eventually booked. Mr Sheikh could not be contacted.

PPP leaders who were encamping in Ghotki claimed that Mohammad Bux Mahar had secured 54,097 votes so far against 33,980 of Ahmed Ali Khan Mahar during vote count of 157 polling stations. It was also learnt through local journalists that in Ghotki PPP candidate got 40,800 votes and independent candidate secured 34,000 votes in 125 polling stations. It showed a lead of PPP candidate’s of over 7,000 votes.

“We have received results of 175 polling stations which showed that our candidate has so far obtained over 55,000 votes and his rival and independent candidate over 34,000 votes so far”, said Sindh PPP president Nisar Khuhro. He said that polling remained by and large peaceful.

In Ghotki, 290 polling stations, in all, were set up for by-poll. And in Khangarh taluka the young sardar also was having a lead of around 3,000 to 4,000 votes. Reports said that around 205 polling stations’ unofficial results had reached the two candidates. Polling process remained slow amidst scorching heat. Several polling stations were also set up in far-flung areas as well.

One political view from Ghotki is that Mahar community has voted for Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar, who is tribal chief of Mahars. “The community decided to vote for him as he is chief sardar being son of late Ghulam Mohammad Mahar who used to don the mantle of Mahar tribe’s chief and he should not lose this poll”, said a resident. He said that people of Mahar tribe also cultivate Mohammad Bux’s land in Khangarh taluka which is the sardar’s home taluka as well.

NA-205 had fallen vacant after death of Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar, father of Ahmed Ali Khan Mahar and ex-Sindh chief minister. Late Mahar had won this seat as independent candidate and later joined PTI. Prime Minister Imran Khan then inducted him in his cabinet as federal narcotics control minister.

In last general elections Mohammad Bux Mahar could not contest polls as his papers were not accepted for concealing assets — agricultural land. This time he also enjoyed electoral support of Jamiat Ulema-i-Fazl. Mahar is considered close to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and he had served as CM’s special assistant on sports in 2013-2018 Sindh government of PPP.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2019