18 candidates to contest NA-213 by-poll

HYDERABAAD: The NA-213 Umerkot by-election’s the district returning officer has issued Form 33.

The by-election for NA-213 is set to be held on April 17 due to the death of former MNA Nawab Yousaf Talpur.

According to Form 33, (the final list of candidates), 18 candidates will be contesting, including those from political and religious parties.

Three candidates are from political and religious parties and 15 independent candidates will be part of the electoral competition.

The PPP has given its ticket to Saba Talpur, the widow of the late Nawab Yousuf Talpur. The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are jointly backing Lalchand Prabhu Lal, an independent candidate.

Maulana Muhammad Umar Jan Sarhindi, who is named in the murder FIR of Shahnawaz Kunbhar, who was killed in an alleged police encounter after his arrest on blasphemy charges, is a candidate of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). The MQM-Pakistan has issued a ticket to Lal Chand Meru Malh for NA-213.

District Umerkot journalists think independent candidates will also get votes, but the real contest will be among the candidates of the PPP, TLP and

PTI-GDA.