Sukkur division is undoubtedly a land of political heavyweights like Pakistan Peoples Party’s Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Qaim Ali Shah and their progeny, electables Mian Abdul Haq aka Mian Mitho (independent), PPP ticket-holders Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar and his kin, who hold sway in their respective areas and have a track record to guard their turf against all odds.

PPP has really ‘worked hard’ to cover every inch of the ground in the division, which comprises Ghotki, Sukkur and Khairpur districts, and even accomplished with success the precarious mission of reconciling large-egoed Mahar sardars in order to ensure their votes are not distributed and the party’s ticket-holders win their seats easily.

The division has seven National Assembly (NA) and 14 provincial assembly (PA) seats with 3,040,256, of them 1,628,951 female, registered voters.

Sukkur district

The Sukkur district has two NA and four PA seats. Veteran PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah, who remained leader of the opposition in National Assembly and federal minister, wields great influence in the district.

He has an edge over his rivals for his visible contribution to the district’s development in the form of Sukkur IBA University, Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women’s University, Aror University of Art and Design, SIUT and NICVD.

Shah is contesting NA-201 against Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s Maulana Mohammad Saleh Indhar. In 2018 elections, Shah had won the seat by securing 84,708 votes and inflicting defeat on Syed Tahir Hussain Shah of PTI who received 58,767 votes. He is once again poised to have an easy sail mostly because of his performance.

PPP’s Noman Islamu-ddain Shaikh is contesting NA-200 (Sukkur-I) and his chances for win have become brighter after JUI-F has chosen not to field its candidate against him. Mr Shaikh had won the seat in 2018 and got 70,870 votes to defeat Mubeen Ahmed, who polled 60,531 votes. Local analysts believe Mr Shaikh is in a comfortable position to retain the seat.

PPP’s Syed Nasir Shah, former provincial minister in Syed Murad Ali Shah’s cabinet, is contesting PS-25 (Sukkur-IV) where he faces JUI-F’s Ameer Bakhsh aka Meer Mahar. In 2018, Mr Shah had won the seat with 42,503 votes.

Khursheed Shah’s son Syed Farrukh Shah, PPP candidate for PS-24, will have no serious opposition to face as the JUI-F has not fielded its candidate against him. He had won the seat in 2018 by securing 34,077 votes.

Jam Ikramuddin Dharejo is running for PS-22, which he had won in 2018 with 32,944 votes by defeating Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar. It may not prove to be easy for Dharejo this time as he will have to contend with JUI-F’s Mohammad Mubeen Bullo who is making efforts to win over influential people of the area. The GDA and JUI-F has assessed ground realties and lent each other support to give a tough time to PPP.

Khairpur district

PPP has allotted tickets its veteran nonagenarian leader, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who remained Sindh chief minister thrice, for PS-26 (Khairpur-I) and her daughter Dr Nafisa Shah for NA-202 (Khairpur-I).

Qaim had won the seat by obtaining 48,271 votes and Nafisa Shah had secured the seat in 2018 with 107,978 votes defeating former Sindh chief minister Syed Ghous Ali Shah, who polled 58,203 votes. The duo faces JUI-F and GDA rivals, respectively, and is looking at an easy win.

On PS-27, PPP’s Barrister Hallar Wasan is taking on JUI-F’s Mohammad Sharif Buriro. The seat was won by PPP’s Munawar Ali Wassan in 2018. Analysts see bright chances of PPP-backed candidate’s win.

On the remaining seats in Khairpur, NA-203, NA-204, PS-28, 29, 30 and 31, PPP has awarded tickets to old guards, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jilani (NA-203), Syed Javed Ali Shah (NA-204), Sajid Hussain Bhabhan (PS-28), Sheraz Shoukat Rajpar (PS- 29), Naeem Ahmed Kharal (PS-30) and Syed Bachal Shah (PS-31), who have a track record to retain their seats with relative ease.

Ghotki district

In the largely tribal district, the party has strengthened its position by reconciling Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar and his relatives where Ali Gohar is contesting NA-199 against Mian Abdul Haq aka Mian Mitho, an influential religious figure who had fought on PPP ticket in past but is now running as independent, and Abdul Qayoom Halejvi of JUI-F.

On the four PA seats in the district, PPP has awarded tickets to Abdul Bari Pitafi, former Sindh minister (PS-19), Sardar Mohammad Bakhsh Khan Mahar (PS-20), Shaharyar Khan Shar (PS-18) and Ali Nawaz Khan Mahar (PS-21).

Nadir Akmal Leghari, former Sindh minister, is contesting as independent against PPP’s Pitafi. Shaharyar, who won the seat in 2018 on PTI’s ticket by defeating PPP’s Jam Mehtab Dahar, is now in the fray on PPP’s ticket whereas Dahar has taken the field against him as independent in violation of the party’s decision.

Local analysts believe PPP candidates have an edge over their opponents and will have a smooth sail in the district on the polls day, especially after the party managed to defuse infighting between different sardars in the district.

Landmarks

Sukkur division has the world-famous Sukkur Barrage, Sadh Belo, an ancient Hindu worship place on an island in the middle of Indus River, Satyin Jo Astan, Aror, Sukkur IBA University, Masoom Shah Jo Minaro etc.

Gohtki district has habitat of rare Blind Indus Dolphin. The district is rich in oil and gas reserves and has several fertiliser factories while Khairpur district is known for its date production, Faiz Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Kot Deji etc.

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2024