KARACHI: A tough competition is expected today (Thursday) among three big political players, PPP, MQM and PTI as they have nominated their candidates to contest the by-elections at PS-127 Malir Karachi. The provincial Assembly seat was vacated after former MQM MPA Ashfaq Mangi had resigned and joined Mustafa Kamal’s Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP). Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has nominated former MPA Waseem Ahmed, Pakistan Peoples Party has nominated former Gadap twon Nazim, Murtaza Baloch and Nadeem Memon is contesting for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) In the 2013 General Elections, Ashfaq Mangi was declared victorious with 59,811 votes while PPP’s Muhammad Ashraf Samoo was behind with 15,158 votes. Syed Azhar of PTI received 13,818 votes. Pakistan Sarzameen Party (PSP) has opted to stay away from the by- elections but political experts believe that its presence in the district could impact an outcome, as far as the MQM is concerned. According to the election commission there are a total 134 Polling Stations in the Constituency, out of which 67 Polling Stations have been declared sensitive. A total of 207,467 voters are registered in the constituency, out of which 91,355 are women. Heavy contingent of law and enforcement personnel will be deployed outside and inside the polling stations.