An independent elect-MNA from NA-205, Sardar Ali Muhammad Khan Mahar, on Sunday announced to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). According to sources, after meeting the PTI chairman Imran Khan at his Banigala residence in Islamabad, Mahar would formally announce to join PTI. Mahar, the former Sindh chief minister who gained 71,943 votes from the constituency of Ghotki-II, defeated Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Ahsanullah Sundarani opponents. But the Mahar clan itself has been divided. Ali Mohammad Mahar’s bothers Ali Nawaz Mahar and Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar have won from PS-21 on PPP’s ticket and PS-20 on the Grand Democratic Alliance’s (GDA) ticket, respectively. Being an influential politician in the region, Ali Gohar Mahar had a sufficient vote bank in Ghotki, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze and many other districts. Consequently, PPP candidates suffered a heavy setback. Published in Daily Times, July 30th 2018.