KARACHI: The candidate of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in NA-255 is under tremendous pressure due to the presence of an independent candidate affiliated with a banned outfit, which has recently reincarnated.
| Not that the guy's threatened to kill him if he loses, though... |
At least 11 candidates are in the field to contest in the by-election scheduled for June 22. However, the general impression is that the real contestants will be the Muttahida Qaumi Movementâs Dr Farooq Sattar, the MQM Haqiqiâs Sharif Khan and the MMAâs Aslam Mujahid.
| Anybody named Mujahid, you know he's gotta be the voice of sweet reason... |
Aslam Mujahid, Mehmood Qureshiâs close rival in the October elections, had challenged the results, asking the Election Commission to conduct re-polling because there had allegedly been rigging. On Oct. 30, a full bench of the Election Commission rejected the appeal and declared Qureshi elected from the constituency that consisted of areas that were dominated by Haqiqi until a state-sponsored operation was carried out against the group and âno-go areas.â The MQM then fielded Abrarul Haq as its candidate who was trailing the two close rivals. Previously, despite its reputation as a Haqiqi stronghold, the MQM had won from the constituency in every election.
| That's the set-up, convoluted though it may be... |
Sources told Daily Times that Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi, who is contesting as an independent candidate, has been an activist of the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba, led by MNA Maulana Azam Tariq, which now re-emerged as Millat e-Islamia Party. The Maulana is now a local leader of the new party, which, according to its founding leaders, is no longer a jihadi party and âhas no relation or link with any jihadi outfit.â
| "Who, us? Jihadis? Pshaw!" |
The general impression is that the Maulana was set to influence the voters dedicated to the religious parties. âHe will be a spoiler and dash whatever hopes the MMA has to win this constituency,â a local political leader told Daily Times. According to political analysts, Maulana Farooqiâs candidature will largely benefit the two MQM groups and could get MMAâs Mujahid out of the contest. The MMA leadership has realised the situation and sought the PPP leadershipâs support for its candidate. The PPP has awarded its ticket to Maulana Feroz Hazarvi who had received more than 10,000 votes in the previous election.
| Are there any people in Pakland who aren't maulanas or mullahs or muftis or something else starting with an "M" who actually hold public office? |
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