THATTA, April 22: The once impregnable fort of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Thatta, has undergone a tectonic shift over the past five years of PPP rule and is no more a fort — of any political party for that matter — particularly after the exit of the highly influential Shirazi group from the PPP.

The Shirazis had joined the party just a few months before the election and got under a deal PPP tickers for one National Assembly (NA) and three provincial assembly (PA) seats.

The district has two NA and five PA seats up for grabs.

Local party workers had bitterly opposed the party decision to take in the Shirazis and recorded their anger on the streets, but the party’s district leadership had chosen to keep silent, at least for the time being.

However, the marriage of convenience could not withstand the test of time and broke down sooner rather than later.

Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi, leader of the Shirazi group, announced at a press conference over the past week untying the knot andgave a long list of the reasons for the decision.He said the group would now contest independently all seven seats in the district. The sudden U-turn sent shockwaves through the party rank and file because of the strong political standing of the Shirazis in the area.

A PPP stalwart Ghulam Qadir Malkani also announced quitting the PPP at that press conference and joining the Shirazis along with his supporters and tribesmen, which further dented the party’s position.

The Shirazis have fielded a younger brother of Ghulam Qadir Malkani, Haji Mohammad Usman Malkani, as their candidate for PS-88 (Ghorabari-Ketibundar) against their strong opponent, Owais Muzaffar Tappi, who is widely believed to be a foster brother of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Despite the initial tepid response from voters disappointed in former rulers, the electioneering is gradually picking up. The Shirazis have intensified the campaign in all constituencies, particularly in PS-88 (Ghorabari-Ketibundar) where they have fielded Haji Mohammad Usman Malkani as an independent candidate to face off Mr Tappi.

The other two important candidates are Sardar Owais Gohram Jokhio, son of Sardar Jam Bijar Khan Jokhio, and Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, chairman of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, who is contesting as an independent candidate.

Over 90 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line in PS-88 constituency, which has become a focus of attention by local and international media because of Mr Tappi.

In the 2008 general election, despite the PPP riding a wave of sympathy after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Haji Usman Malkani of the PPP had won by a simple margin of 2,200 votes because both Shirazis and Malkanis have large pockets of loyal voters in the area.

The other most important constituency in the coastal area is PS-85 (Mirpur Sakro) for which former provincial minister of culture Sassui Palijo is in the race besides Syed Amir Haider Shah Shirazi (independent), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Heer Suho and Jaam Owais Gohram (independent). Mr Gohram has a comparatively large vote bank in the constituency.

On PS-87 (Jati), PPP’s Abbas Ali Lohar is facing Mohammad Ali Malkani of the Shirazi group and the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s Sardar Iqbal Moosa Chandio who has recently deserted the PPP. Mr Malkani is a strong contestant for this seat, according to analysts.

On PS-86 (Sujawal), PPP’s Parveen Leghari, daughter of Raees Jamal Khan Laghari who is a highly influential landlord of yesteryear, is in the run beside Syed Shah Hussain Shah of the Shirazi group and Fehmida Shah of the MQM.

On PS-84 (Thatta), PPP’s Abdul Hameed Soomro, younger brother of former PPP MNA Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro, is readying to take on the head of the Shirazi group, Syed Aijaz Ali Shah Shirazi, and a recent PPP deserter, Pir Rehmani who is contesting on a PML-N ticket.Mr Shirazi appears to be all set to give a tough fight to both contestants.

On NA-238 (Sujawal), former PML-Q MNA Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Shirazi is in the fray against the MQM’s Fehmida Shah and PPP’s Arbab Rameez Memon.

Mr Memon, who has considerable influence among the Memon community, is widely believed to sustain serious damage in this constituency because it is traditionally considered Shirazi stronghold.

On NA-237 (Thatta-I), PPP’s Sadiq Ali Memon, PML-N’s Marvi Memon, Riaz Shah Shirazi of the Shirazi group and the MQM’s Ghulam Mohammad Khushk are major contestants.