KARACHI: Up to five Members of National Assembly (MNA) have defected from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the last few days. Daily Times learnt that former MNAs Ghulam Ali Nizamani, Sardar Ali Gohar Mehar, Sardar Kamal Khan , Faqeer Sher Muhammad Balalani, Talat Mahesar and Muhammad Aslam left the PPP because of their reservations over the distribution of tickets for the upcoming elections. From the constituency of Badin, Ghulam Ali Nizamani a former MNA of PPP joined anti-PPP, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) after meeting Dr Zulfiqar Mirza. Ali Nizamani was elected as an MNA in 2003. He retained his seat in the 2008 polls on PPP ticket. Nizamani will be contesting against PPP candidate Meer Allah Bux Talpur from PS-71 Talhar on a GDA ticket. Another former MNA, from NA-205, Sardar Ali Gohar Mehar from Ghotki bid farewell to the PPP after he met with the GDA leadership. Gohar Mehar publicly announced his decision to contest election from the platform of GDA. PPP granted a ticket to Ahsanullha Sundrani from the constituency. On other hand former PPP-MNA Sardar Kamal Khan submitted his nomination form as an independent candidate for NA-229 Badin against PPP’s candidate Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur. In Tharparkar NA-221, Faqeer Sher Muhammad Balalani will contest the elections against PPP’s Pir Noor Muhammad Shah Jillani as an independent candidate. Bilalani is among the few political figures who had laid the foundation of PPP in the desert region and commanded great respect in the party for being dear to the slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto. In Dadu NA-234, PPP’s former MNA, Dr Talat Iqbal Mahisar along with his family members left PPP to join the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Dr Talat Iqbal Mahisar, Sardar Tufail Ahmed Mahisar, Bashir Ahmed Mahisar, Imtiaz Ahmed Mahisar , Saqib Tufail Ahmed Mahisar and Mehrab Rahoja announced their decision to join the PTI after a lengthy meeting with the PTI leader Liaquat Jatoi at the Jatoi house on June 18. Talat Iqbal Mahisar will be contesting against the PPP Imran Zafar Laghari, who is Dr Talat’s brother-in-law. Dr Talat said that his family and supporters will vote for Liaquat Ali Jatoi and his brothers. The family wields political influence in Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah Taluka based NA-234 constituency. Another dissatisfied PPP leader, Abdul Ghani Khoso, who was denied a party ticket for PS-55, filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate. He will be contesting against PPP’s Qasim Soomro. Sukkur district chairman Muhammad Aslam also left the party because the PPP did not give ticket to his brother to contest in the upcoming elections. Published in Daily Times, June 21st 2018.