Daily Times

NA-244 KARACHI EAST-III

The constituency has been carved out of NA-251 which was once a stronghold of MQM but now the party appears to be in a difficult position here.

MQM-P’s Rauf Siddiqui faces three main contenders – from PML-N, MMA and PTI.

The constituency primarily consists of Faisal Cantonment, Defence View, Kashmir Colony, Akhtar Colony, Manzoor Colony, Azam Basti, Chanesar Goth, Mehmoodabad, Baloch Colony, Dhoraji, FerozAbad, Hill Park, Muhammad Ali Society, Naval Colony, Karsaz, posh areas KDA Scheme and Gulistan-e-Johar Pehlawan Goth.

The population of the constituency is 726,253, of which 407,363 are registered as voters. It includes two PS seats: PS-103 Defense View and PS-104 Faisal Cantonment which was won in last year’s bypoll by PPP’s Karachi president Saeed Ghani.

MMA candidate is Zahid Saeed, a prominent businessman, PML-N has fielded Miftah Ismail, PTI Ali Zaidi and PPP Mian Waqar Akhtar Paganwala.

Zahid Saeed, the former vice president of the federation of chambers of commerce and industry and Korangi Association, is expected to benefit from his close ties with the Bohri, Sodagaran-i-Delhi, Memon, Chinioti and other business groups.

Miftah Ismail of PML-N is canvassing in the constituency by promising to arrange installation of desalination plants and financing of the K-4 water project if his party is returned to power in Centre.

MQM-P’s Rauf Siddiqui lacks personal support in the constituency and is relying on his party’s vote bank for success. But, party insiders are sceptical about his chances given the recent rise of the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).

PPP’s Paganwala says he will work to get the basic problems of the voters resolved regardless of winning or losing the election.

PSP’s candidate Saeed Shafiq is also in the battle. Among 23 candidates only one female candidate from ANP is Shazia Razzaq Khan giving challenge to all men.

Experts opinion

Senior journalist Mansoor Mani says that Rauf Siddiqui can still not be written off entirely. “It won’t be easy to defeat him,” he says, “MQM-P seems to be not dis-interested in the campaign. The party is banking its hopes on the division of anti-MQM vote among different parties.”

Since the PTI is split into factions in the constituency, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi is not likely to make a mark on the polling day.

Voters’ issues

In many areas, water and sewerage problems are common and still unresolved. Sewerage infrastructure is crumbling in many localities due to the expansion of the population over the years. The nullah of Manzoor Colony has been a dumping site for solid waste for years due to which it remains choked and overflows after rains.

Sights of overflowing manholes are common in Mehmoodabad, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Azam Basti, Hindu Basti and Kashmir Colony.

Fahmida Bashir, a homekeeper, told Daily Times, “Leakage in water lines and excessive garbage are also a common issues in these areas. People also frequently complain about mixing of sewage and drinking water lines.”

Saddam Hussain, a shopkeeper, the only bread earner in his family, says water shortage has made life very difficult and prolonged load shedding during nights has made psychological illnesses rampant.

Runina Gill, a school teacher, says whoever wins should set up better equipped educational institutions since there is a huge lack of good educational facilities. She also claimed, “Many of the residents have skin irritations and other problems like asthmas and bloating due to overflowing gutters in the streets and dirty mud.”

A resident, Saad Ahmed said that there are insufficient healthcare facilities, especially for those who are from the middle class, adding that the rich individuals can afford private medical facilities, but there should be free medical treatment along with medicines under governmental control.

Shakeel Ahmed Khan, a middle-aged lawyer, who is a resident of Mehmoodabdad, says that the previous government did not perform a satisfactory job regarding maintenance and construction of roads.

Published in Daily Times, July 22^nd 2018.