Daily Times

KARACHI: While Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) has fielded candidates in Sindh for upcoming general elections, its major partner Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PMLF) is facing internal rift over awarding tickets in its stronghold Sanghar district.

Following the situation, PML-F has delayed the announcement of tickets for the district candidates.

The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) is comprised of PMLF, National Peoples Party, Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Sindh National Front, Peoples Party (Workers) and some other like-minded political groups such as former Sindh home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and his wife Dr Fehmida Mirza.

As per experts’ opinion, PMLF is the only potential threat for Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Sanghar and Khairpur districts.

With 13 seats in Sindh Assembly in 2013 general elections, PMLF remained third highest in the province after the PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Out of those 13 NA seats, four lawmakers belonged to Sanghar district.

However, the PMLF is facing internal conflicts causing a delay over allotments of tickets for district’s three National Assembly and six Sindh Assembly seats.

The bone of contention is said to be Sanghar’s Khipro Taluka. In 2013, Sadaruddin Shah, brother of Pir Pagara won Khipro’s National Assembly seat. Later when he vacant the seat, PPP’s Shazia Marri won the seat in by-election. Traditionally, this seat have had been occupied by PML-F.

For 2018 general elections, PMLF decided to nominate Qazi Shamsuddin Rajar for NA-216 and Khuda Baksh Dars for Sindh Assembly seat PS-42. But, as per party insiders, tickets were reshuffled on Qazi’s will, who wanted provincial assembly seat for himself. Because of reshuffling, PML-F brought seasoned politician Kishanchand Parwani, an outsider, for NA-216.

“At present two caliphs Ali Ghulam and Qasim Faqir are seemed to be winning the battle. So basically tug-of-war is between powerful caliphs and non-Caliphs,” said Ameer Bux Burdi, a local journalist.

At present PMLF is headed by Pir Pagara Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi, also known as Raja Saein.

Pir Pagara is the spiritual post awarded to leader of the Hur Jamaat. Hurs are a warlike Sufi Muslim community in Sindh celebrated in Pakistan for the long-running guerrilla campaign it fought against the British Raj.

The Pir Pagara, Hurs’ spiritual leader, is appointed by the Caliphs of the Hurs. There are 16 Caliphs, out of which 15 are in Pakistan, while the 16th resides in India. The Caliphs are responsible for managing the affairs of the community. Caliphs are also believed to have influence in PMLF’s decision making who also enjoy valuable share in power corridors.

“It is obvious that PMLF’s party differences over tickets are delaying the announcement. The differences will also affect the polling day,” Burdi said.

PMLF Kashif Nizamani denied any differences within party over allocation of tickets, but admitted that delay was because ‘consultation’ process wasn’t over yet.

“There are no differences within party. It is expected that PMLF will finalize its candidates by June 26,” Kashif told Daily Times.

“The speculations over party differences are baseless. As soon as the consultation process will be over, party would announce tickets,” he added.

On reserved seats, as per party insiders, PMLF has decided to re-nominate upper-class Hindu Nand Kumar Goklani, who remained party parliamentary leader in outgoing Sindh Assembly. His younger brother Naresh Kumar Goklani will be awarded National Assembly reserved seat on priority.

As per Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) data, total number of registered voters in the Sanghar district is 937,000. Out of which minorities’s registered votes are 153,300.

Tulsi Balani, an independent woman candidate who has filed nomination papers for NA-222 Tharparkar-II, says political parties including PMLF have always neglected schedule caste Hindus for granting general seats. Lower caste community had high hopes from GDA but it disappointed them by not giving ticket to schedule caste, she said.

Political analysts like Sohail Sangi, believes that PMLF’s internal situation will also impact GDA’s performance in elections.

“Definitely there will be impact on alliance’s performance on polling day. It is also not clear that whether GDA is alliance of political parties or individuals. So if PMLF if facing difficulty in managing its affairs in its stronghold district then obviously it will be weak in leading the alliance in other areas as well,” Sangi said.

According to Sangi, there is a new trend emerging with political parties, including PMLF that dissident voices are emerging over ticket’s distribution.

“Earlier we have seen sit-ins at Bilawal House and Bani Gala by respective party workers against the ticket distribution which is good for political culture.”

“However if PMLF differences of electable impacting party’s decisions then it is a big indicator. On one hand they are PMLF electable but on same time they belong to Hur Jamaat. PMLF is basically not a political party, it is a spiritual party based on followers of Hur Jamaat. In past we saw that whatever top leadership decided was accepted by and large,” he said.