KARACHI: City’s constituency NA-243 is being considered one of the important constituencies in the upcoming general elections as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan is contesting election from this constituency.
Aside from Khan, as many as 14 candidates are contesting election from the area.
The constituency literacy rate is 80 per cent and its total population is 695,588. Majority of the residents are Urdu and Gujrati speaking.
The total number of registered voters is approximately 410,833, including 211,168 male and 190,625 female.
Bahadurabad, Sharifabad, Liaquat National Hospital, Agha Khan Hospital, Faizan Madian, Expo Centre, Hassan Square, Shanti Nagar, Mujahid Colony, all blocks of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Metro Dil-III, Karachi University, Gulistan-e-Johar and Baitul Mukaramm included in NA-243.
The previously known as NA-253 became NA-243 during the recent delimitation by merging almost all areas of NA-253 and some areas of NA-252. However, about 90 per cent areas were earlier part of NA-253.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has a strong connection in the constituency, however, this year there would be tough competition as PTI chief himself contesting from the area. The sources said that Imran Khan is the most popular candidate in the area and the party has gained popularity three times more than 2013.
If the previous record keeps in mind, Imran Khan can collect 20,000 to 30,000 additional votes from the area as PTI hopes of extracting vote bank Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties’ candidates. It is pertinent to mention here that Urdu speaking vote bank which was earlier went in the favour of MQM-P now may shift their loyalty towards other political parties. The shift in vote bank may throw more weight behind PTI.
Like the past years, voter turnout would not be high and the candidate with 80,000 to 90,000 vote will be the winner.
Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) candidate Usama Razi is also a strong candidate from NA-243. Qualification wise, Usama Razi has edge over his competitors. He is PhD scholar of Karachi University.
In 2002 general elections, MQM-P candidate was succeeded to bag the seat. However, MQM performance would make difference as compared the PTI.
However, the final result would come on July 25 when the elections 2018 are scheduled.
