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Jamshoro\u2019s electoral history tells us that if Malik Asad were on PPP\u2019s side, the party would not have to worry much about the 4 seats in Feb 8 polls.<\/p>\n
With Dr Sikandar Shoro\u2019s re-entry into Pakistan Peoples Party, the party must be feeling complacent about its prospects for electoral success in Jamshoro district on Feb 8, and shrugging off opposition from rivals, chief among them Sindh United Party which is contesting polls as part of anti-PPP alliance, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).<\/p>\n In 2018 elections, contest on a provincial constituency of Kotri PS-8 had in fact turned into a tug of war between PPP\u2019s Dr Sikandar Shoro and Malik Asad Sikandar, generating greater interest among people of Jamshoro.<\/p>\n Young Dr Shoro had to put in a lot of sweat and tears to face down the experienced parliamentarian, Malik Asad. Dr Shoro wanted to salvage his family\u2019s stakes as he believed the constituency belonged to his elders, including Siddique Shoro, who had won it consecutively as PPP candidate from 1988-1993.<\/p>\n In 1997 Malik Asad joined the fray and became independent MPA while beating PPP\u2019s Shafqat Shah. He won NA seat as well against Pir Zaman Shah in the then Dadu district. Then in 2002 polls, Asad\u2019s maternal uncle late Ghulam Nabi Shoro won the seat.<\/p>\n After his death, Dr Shoro contested by-poll held on February 2007 as PPP candidate. But Asad cold-shouldered PPP as Jamshoro district nazim. Rather, he put his weight behind Pir Mujeeb, ruling PML-Q candidate, indicating internecine fight involving two families within PPP.<\/p>\n The then Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim backed Mujeeb and the entire government machinery descended on Jamshoro to make sure Mujeeb did not lose. Mujeeb eventually won to the great chagrin of Dr Shoro.<\/p>\n Subsequently, Dr Shoro won the seat in 2008 and 2013 (then PS-71) as Asad grabbed NA-231 in 2013 polls and did not contest 2008 polls for being district nazim.<\/p>\n In 2018 elections, the rift resurfaced when Dr Shoro was denied the party ticket for the provincial seat, which went to Asad. The seat was redrawn as PS-82. This marked departure of Dr Shoro from PPP although he was the party\u2019s Sindh deputy general secretary.<\/p>\n Dr Shoro lost 2018 polls as independent candidate on PS-82 by a close margin. Asad secured 40,604 votes while Dr Shoro obtained 36,315 votes. Dr Shoro had accused Asad of using strong arm tactics to deny him victory and then challenged results before tribunal but lost.<\/p>\n On two other seats, Murad Ali Shah won PS-80 comfortably by securing 50,467 votes against SUP\u2019s Jalal Shah, who was polled 21,915 votes. PPP\u2019s Giyanoo Mal secured 34,957 votes on PS-81 to beat independent Malik Changez Khan, who was polled 26,975. Sikandar Rahupoto won Jamshoro\u2019s NA-233 with 133,500 votes against Jalal.<\/p>\n Though PPP has reconciled with Dr Shoro ahead of Feb 8 polls to bolster its chances of easy wins, but Jamshoro\u2019s electoral history tells us that if Asad were on PPP\u2019s side, the party would not have to worry much about the four seats in Feb 8 polls.<\/p>\n Regardless of the number of total contestants in the constituencies, the stage is all set for a PPP versus GDA fight. Health issues did not permit SUP chairman Jalal Shah to run for the seat this time while PTI candidates are contesting as independents.<\/p>\n Asad would contest an NA seat, which has been renumbered as NA-226, in place of Sikandar Rahupoto, Murad\u2019s close friend, to face GDA\u2019s Munir Hyder Shah. Shah is grandson of Ameer Hyder Shah, G.M. Syed\u2019s son.<\/p>\n Of the four provincial constituencies, Murad Shah is contesting on PS-77 (Sehwan) against GDA\u2019s Roshan Buriro. Dr Shoro is up against GDA\u2019s Syed Munir Hyder Shah on PS-78 (Kotri) while Asad\u2019s son Malik Sikandar Khan, named after his grandfather, is vying for PS-79 (Thana Bula Khan). The GDA had fielded Mir Mangrio but it was now supporting independent Malik Changez, Asad\u2019s relative, after seat adjustment.<\/p>\n Malik, Syed families hold sway in Jamshoro<\/strong><\/p>\n Jamshoro\u2019s political arena has witnessed political contests between two most influential families of Malik Sikandar Khan, father of Malik Asad and Jalal Shah\u2019s grandfather, late G.M. Syed, an exponent of sovereign Sindh. Ghulam Murtaza Shah commonly known as G.M. Syed is buried in Sann, a small town of Jamshoro. The two fought polls in 1970.<\/p>\n