KARACHI: Although all major parties have fielded their candidates in NA-255, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan is still a force to be reckoned with in the constituency despite all odds and still having a fragmented house.

For many, there is no indication thus far that MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui would face any significant challenge from any other aspirant in the July 25 elections as they see a smooth sailing for him in the constituency.

Explore: Who will rule Karachi?

After new delimitation, the NA-255 (Liaquatabad-Nazimabad), Central III, constituency — former NA-247 — is considered a safe seat for the MQM-P. This is the main reason behind MQM-P’s decision to field its convener Dr Siddiqui, who was previously a member of the National Assembly from Hyderabad, in NA-255.

The MQM has emerged victorious in this constituency six times as it won all general elections since 1988, except in 1993 when it boycotted the polls, in this seat. Until 1997 this constituency was NA-187 and after new delimitation in 2002 it had become NA-247.

Considering it a safe seat, the party has fielded its convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui

The constituency comprises whole Liaquatabad (including Angara Goth, Ilyas Goth, Sindhi Hotel, etc), Federal Capital Area, Moosa Colony, Firdous Colony, Haji Mureed Goth, Block W of North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Mujahid Colony, Gulbahar, Rizvia Society.

A majority of the residents are Urdu speaking. However, people belonging to other ethnicities, including Punjabis, Pakhtuns, Sindhis, Balochs, Seraikis, Hazarewal, are also living in this constituency which also has an excellent literacy rate.

Confusion about Altaf

Despite a poll boycott call given by MQM founder Altaf Hussain as well as the Mustafa Kamal-led Pak Sarzameen Party’s (PSP) increasing foothold all over Karachi, it is widely believed that the MQM-P on its election symbol ‘kite’ and its ‘Jeay Mohajir’ slogan will sail through the crucial election from this particular constituency.

Analysis: MQM still licking its (self-inflicted) wounds

However, it’s not like the voters here are no longer loyal to London-based Hussain even after his Aug 22, 2016 incendiary speech.

As the MQM-P chose not to criticise Mr Hussain publicly to take advantage of the situation, the constituents sympathetic to and supportive of the party still believe that the MQM-P has strategically distanced itself from the party founder and when a favourable time comes, they will hand over the party to him.

Despite knowing the voters’ sentiments towards Mr Hussain, even the hawkish leaders of the MQM-P have never tried to remove the confusion that whether they are genuinely against the London-based founder or they took a line on Aug 23, 2016 under establishment pressure.

15 candidates in the run

A total of 15 aspirants, including four independent candidates are in the run for NA-255.

Except Dr Siddiqui, who has returned to the National Assembly thrice (in 1990, 1997 and 2013), all other candidates fielded by major parties, including the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), are lesser known in the constituency.

PSP candidate Mustafa Jameel Rathore, a religious scholar and son of Siddique Rathore who was a known politician belonging to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP-Noorani), has some personal standing in the constituency because of his Barelvi background. But the Barelvi vote bank in the constituency is going to be split since the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has also fielded its own candidate.

Besides Dr Siddiqui and Mr Rathore, the other candidates are: Faizan Ahmed (Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi), Zafar Ahmed Siddiqui (PPP), Jameel Ahmed Khan (All Pakistan Muslim League), Mustaqeem Qureshi (MMA), Mehmood Maulvi (PTI), Nasiruddin Mehmood (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz), Arsalan Khan (Awami National Party) and Mohammad Adeel (TLP).

The total number of registered voters in NA-255 is 460,110 — 255,753 male and 204,357 female. The election commission has set up 273 polling stations in the constituency.

The NA constituency has two provincial assembly seats — PS-127 and PS-128.

Besides other candidates, PSP chairman Mustafa Kamal is contesting against senior MQM-P leader and former Hyderabad mayor Kanwar Naveed Jameel in PS-127 constituency.

Key issues: loadshedding, water shortages, sanitation

More than seven-hour-long loadshedding carried out by K-Electric in Liaquatabad and Nazimabad’s low-income neighbourhoods on a daily basis is the key issue the constituents are facing for the past decade.

Their current and previous elected representatives, all belonging to the MQM, have failed to resolve this chronic issue, although in some localities they managed to reduce the loadshedding timings from 7.5 hours daily to six, or, 4.5 hours. But still most areas are facing loadshedding for more than seven hours in a day.

Overflowing sewage, heaps of garbage at every nook and corner of the constituency has left a question mark on the performance of the Sindh government-controlled Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and MQM-run District Municipal Corporation Central.

The water crisis has reached to an extent that even poor people had no option but to spend a good amount of money to carry out “boring” for getting subsoil water.

The “builder mafia” is also very active in Liaquatabad and Nazimabad and making millions in cahoots with corrupt officials of the Sindh Building Control Authority by raising multistorey residential-cum-commercial projects in violation of all rules and regulations.

All stakeholders including police, civic bodies, political parties, etc, have kept their eyes closed just for the sake of their share in this illegal business.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2018