Epic contest likely between two heavyweights in PS-105

LAHORE: An epic election contest is expected between two political heavyweights of Karachi including the GDA senior leader Irfan Ullah Marwat and PPP stalwart Saeed Ghani in PS-105.

Marwat has been four times winner of this seat which used to be PS-90 between 1988 and 1997 and PS-114 between 2002 and 2013.

In 2018, this seat comprising areas like Chanesar Goth, Azam Basti, Junejo Town, Mahmoodabad, Kashmir Colony, Defence View and other adjoining areas became PS-104 and in the 2024 general elections, it has been made PS-105.

In the last 35 years, Marwat has been the major figure who has won this seat four times (1988, 1992 by-polls, 2002 and 2013) while representing different parties like Punjabi Pakhtoon Ittehad (PPI), IJI, National Alliance and PMLN.

He lost one election by a margin of less than 1,000 votes in 2008. Between 1988 and 2016, no PPP candidate could win from this seat. It was in the year 2017 when a by-poll was held here and PPP's Saeed Ghani emerged victorious and he defeated present Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori in that contest who was MQM candidate.

In 2018 general election, the PPP won from here once again when Saeed Ghani emerged victorious and four time winner of this seat Irfan Ullah Marwat remained at number two. However, in the 2018 contest, Marwat's election campaign was seriously affected due to the tragedy in his family as his son-in-law Haroon Bilour was targeted by terrorists in Peshawar.

It is pertinent to mention that noted political figures like former chairman Senate Raza Rabbani, former home minister Sindh Rauf Siddiqui and former governor Sindh Kamran Tessori have been the candidates from this seat in different elections. However, only Rauf Siddiqui of MQM was able to win the seat against Marwat after a very close contest in 2008.

In the year 1988, as the candidate of PPI won this seat while bagging 18,131 votes against the MQM-backed independent candidate Ikram ud Din who got around 16,598 votes.

PPP candidate Raza Rabbani stood at number three in that contest and got 4,396 votes. In 1990, Mirza Shahid Baig of Haq Parast Group (MQM) with the support of Muslim League won the seat while getting 18,656 votes.

Independent candidate Chaudhry Abdul Majeed stood at number two position in the contest with 4,260 votes. PPP candidate stood at number four in that contest. In 1993, Rana Sardar Ali Khan of MQM won from here and PPP's Usman Ghani (father of Saeed Ghani) stood at number two position and got around 9,000 votes.

In 1997 general elections, PMLN's Sardar Abdul Rahim won this seat while defeating MQM's Rana Sardar Ali Khan with a margin of nearly 3000 votes. In the year 2002, Irfan Ullah Marwat on the ticket of National Alliance won this seat after a close contest against MQM's Syed Sagheer Afsar.

The margin of victory was around 1,000 votes as Marwat got 12,598 and the runner-up got 11,597. PMLN candidate Sardar Abdul Rahim got around 6,000 votes in that contest.

In the year 2008, it was MQM's Rauf Siddiqui who won the seat while getting 22840 votes whereas Irfan Ullah Marwat got 22,043 votes.

PMLN candidate Sardar Rahim got 10775 votes and the split of vote between two strong anti MQM groups benefitted Muttahida. In 2013 general elections, Irfan Ullah Marwat was fielded as the PMLN candidate and he won this seat getting 37,130 votes. MQM's Rauf Siddiqui was at number two position with 30,305 votes.

After the court's order, sitting MPA Irfan Ullah Marwat had to face de-seating and in 2017 by polls, for the first time, the PPP won this seat in form of Saeed Ghani who got around 22,000 votes followed by MQM's Kamran Tessori who got nearly 17,000 votes.

In 2018 general elections, Saeed Ghani of PPP won this seat by a margin of nearly 15,000 votes against Irfan Ullah Marwat.

In 2024, the real contest is expected between PPP candidate Saeed Ghani and GDA, possibly with the support of PMLN and MQM whose candidate is going to be Irfan Ullah Marwat.

Talking to The News, Irfan Ullah Khan Marwat said he was optimistic about victory and hoped his constituency would once again show confidence in him.

Talking to The News, Saeed Ghani said his party was in a very strong position in this constituency. It is pertinent to mention that Farhan Ghani, brother of Saeed Ghani, is the Chairman of Chanesar Town and local PPP workers believe that the party possesses a number of advantages over the other parties in this contest.