HYDERABAD: As general elections 2018 come closer, candidates from various constituencies in Umerkot have kick-started their efforts to win sympathies of the disgruntled residents of the region.
The major political battle in the region will be for NA-220 between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nawab Yousif Talpur and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
Speaking to Daily Times, residents from various tehsils of Umerkot including venders, shopkeepers, laborers, teachers, and commoners shared their views.
Qeemat from the PS-51 Pithoro shared that ex-minister Sardar Shah did not do anything for the people of the constituency during his tenure. “He turned rich but poverty, unemployment, shortage of irrigation and the water availability deteriorated,” he said.
However, Khanoo Kolhi, an active youth from taluka Pithoro emphasised that Sardar Shah remained more active in assembly than other members and that he was the only voice of Sindh and underprivileged communities.
Kheemon, a farmer from Kunri, said that election is ‘only the game of royal families’. “It’s a game to safeguard and gain illegal favours, flourish their businesses and extort money, but not to serve the nation,” he said.
Zulfi, a trader from Kunri said that PPP has no any agenda to promote the leadership skills of youth, PTI has ever welcomed new faces and allowed them to contest election to be representatives of society, so it would be better to give them a chance instead of PPP.
Manthar Arisar, youth activist of PPP, said that PPP is the only party who gave the voice to voiceless people. Ali Mardan Shah, being a solider of Bhutto vision, is found standing with voters regardless of the circumstances, he added.
According to Shams Nohri, youth activist of Arbab Group, said that Arbab Ghulam Rahim, during his chief ministership, provided many jobs, development schemes in this constituency, therefore he has strong hold here, against Ali Mardan Shah.
