Karachi - A new equation of power may take place in the city after the polls due to the alliance of rightists/religio-political parties.
The electoral history clearly indicates that Urban Sindh has always served as hub for the MQM that always enjoyed power in predominantly Urdu speaking regions of Karachi and Hyderabad.
The massive influx from other parts of the country in the city in last couple of years has changed demographics situation and off scene players have managed to split a heavy mandate in the metropolis.
Citizen of Karachi have strong association with their ethnicities that colour the political landscape of the city.
A number of parties are participating in upcoming elections, including MQM, PPP, ANP, PML-N, PTI, MQM-H, JI, JUI, Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST), Muttihada Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Majlise Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and others which have fielded their candidates.The elections might bring unprecedented results for the stakeholders of Karachi.
The new party alliances can make a significant difference in the future political scenario of the metropolis.
Major alliances have been established between religious parties that are jointly contesting against the secular parties.
The National Assembly constituency NA-240 previously hold by MQM, comprises the parts of Baldia, Shersha, Pak Colony, Rexer and Mianwali Colony with mostly sub urban areas. It surrounds the population of Pakhtoons, Hazarwalas, Baloch, Sindhis and Urdu-speaking peoples. MQM won this constituency with 67,807 votes leaving PPP-P in runners up with score of 60,628 votes.
The said constituency has two provincial assembly seats PS-91 and PS-92.
The MQM scored 37,175 votes, defeating PPP-P which scored 23,891 in PS-91. Despite PPP-P candidate was announced winner in PS-92 31,394 votes leaving MQM runner up with score of 30,981 votes. As the constituency of NA-241 is surrounded be majority of Urdu-speaking, Pakhtoons from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjabis and Balochs, Where MQM won with 93,617 votes defeating ANP that scored 36,236 votes.
In PS-93, Amir Nawab of the ANP won with 36,473 votes defeating rival who scored 14,134 votes. The highly disputed areas are included in PS-93 include Mominabad, Zia Colony, Mujahid Colony, Bijli Nagar, Islam Nagar and some areas of the SITE Town. On the other side, NA-249 is judged to be the safest seats for MQM, previously won by MQM`s leader Dr Farooq Sattar. It comprises the old city areas, including Kharadar, Mithadar, Boulton Market, Ranchore Lane, Dharamsiwara, Nanakwara, Napier Quarters, Ramswami, Jubilee, Pan Mandi and some parts of Lyari Town.
The old and huge population of Memons, Marwaris, Ganchis and Gujrati lives here with significant number of Urdu-speaking, Balochs, Sindhis and Lasis. During last elections, MQM`s Farooq Sattar scored 103,846 votes beating PPP-P`s Abdul Habib Memon, who scored 73,223 votes.
This constituency has two provincial seats PS-110 and PS-111. The MQM scored 36,356 votes defeating PPP which scored 28,388 in PS-110.
Similarly, MQM won PS-111 seats scoring 67,524 votes leaving behind PPP with 47,717 votes. The NA-250 lastly obtained by MQM`s Khushbakht Shujaat, which includes posh localities of Defense and Clifton.
Sum middle class localities and katchi abadi areas are also part of this constituency. In 2002 elections, MQM`s Nasreen Jalil and PPP-P`s Mirza Ikhtiar Baig faced the defeat by Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). In 2008 shujaat scored 52,045 votes beating Baig, who scored 44,412 votes while constituency’s provincial seat PS-112 was won by Muqeem Alam MQM with 27,371 votes while PPP-P`s Syed Najmi Alam scoring 26,902 was left behind.
Including PS-113 where MQM`s Askari Taqvi won scoring 24,232 votes, defeating PML-N`s Salim Zia who scored 15,533 votes.
With 83,537 votes, MQM`s Waseem Akhter defeated PPP-P`s Choudhri Umar Hayat Sandhu who scored 17,823 votes in NA-251, that covers posh areas of Karachi Administrative Housing Society (KAHS) and PECHS. Besides other areas, it comprises eight UC’s of Jamshed Town, PECHS, Jut Lines, Abyssinia Lines, Chanesar Goth, Mehmoodabad, Liaquat Ashraf Colony, Kashmir Colony, Manzoor Colony, Akhtar Colony, Junejo Town and Defence Bungalows.
The NA-251 comprises Sindh Assembly constituencies PS-114 and PS-115.
Similarly, PS-114 seat was won by MQM`s Abdul Rauf Sidddiqui, who took 22,940 votes in last election and defeated Irfanullah Khan Marwat with 22,042 votes.
The Provincial Assembly seat PS-117 covers the localities of PIB Colony, Jehangir Road, Jamshed Quarters, Pakistan Quarters, Patel Para, Garden East and Parsi Colony.
MQM`s Dr Saghir Ahmad won above seat with 50,743 votes by defeating PPP-P`s Pir Abdul Rashid who scored 15,257 votes.
The constituency of NA-253 comprises major areas of Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Jauhar and NED universities, Metroville, Shantinagar and portions of Gubhan town and Faisal cantonment. MQM`s Syed Haider Abbas Rizivi won with 97,074 votes defeating PPP-P`s Faisal Raza Abidi who scored 47,755 votes.
PS-126 comprises the area of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gultistan-i-Jauhar, Hussain Hazara village and NED universities, Metroville and Railway Society.
The constituency of PS-126 currently held by MQM`s Syed Faisal Sabzwari with 42,750 votes who defeat PPP-P`s Abdul Hakim Baloch 30,549 votes.
Similarly PS-127 was won by MQM`s Nisar Ahmad Panhwar who scored 65,473 and defeat PPP`s Muhammad Rafique who scored 46,469 votes.
The National Assembly constituency of NA-257 comprises the area of Malir Cantonment, Kausar Town, Khokhrapar, Saudia Colony, Kausar Town, Kachchi Para, Cattle Colony, Qazaffi Town, Quaidabad, Mohabbat Nagar, Sahibdad goth. The sub urban localities falling under the City government and the Cantonment Board carry huge number of Goths. This constituency has an ethnic mix pocket of Memons, Balochs, Kachchis, Sindhis and Urdu-speaking people. In last elections, MQM`s Sajid Ahmad won with scoring 134,448 votes defeating PPP-P`s Riaz Hussain with 46,080 votes.