ISLAMABAD: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman, won’t be running in the 2024 general elections from Lyari, previously a stronghold under NA-239 (Karachi South-I) for the party.
Instead, he has filed nomination papers for NA-128 (Lahore-XII), NA-194 (Larkana-I), and NA-196 (Qambar Shahdadkot-I). This decision has sparked discussions among political analysts, with some suggesting that PPP’s absence from Lyari’s contest signals a wane in their interest or confidence following their loss to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in 2018.
However, refuting these claims, Sindh PPP general secretary Waqar Mehdi cited the party’s success in recent local bodies elections in Lyari, emphasizing their strong position.
He asserted PPP’s anticipated victories not only in Lyari but across various city areas in the upcoming polls, highlighting the pool of promising candidates awaiting ticket allocation post the scrutiny process.
Addressing queries about new members, particularly from Urdu-speaking communities or former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers, Mehdi emphasized PPP’s historic support from Urdu-speakers and mentioned existing party leadership from this community.
In contrast, political analyst and journalist Sameer Mandhro expressed skepticism about PPP’s confidence in winning Lyari post their 2018 defeat. Mandhro highlighted the constituency’s complexity and suggested PPP’s cautious strategy by positioning Bilawal in constituencies perceived as winnable.
Mohsin Baloch, a Lyari resident, lamented the lack of basic amenities despite the neighborhood’s historical PPP support. Baloch highlighted severe electricity shortages and a general sentiment of neglect among the people, suggesting this dissatisfaction might be influencing PPP’s reduced interest in the constituency.
The consensus seems to point toward a complex interplay of factors, including PPP’s electoral strategies, the dynamics within Lyari, and the party’s assessment of their standing in the region, potentially impacting their candidate selection for the upcoming elections.
