PPP panel in surprise defeat in Larkana bar polls

All the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidates suffered defeat for the first time in the history of District Bar Association (DBA) Larkana elections at the hands of their rival PML-N candidates.

Larkana is considered a stronghold of the PPP but the party suffered a blow in the elections this time. According to results, the Babu Sarfraz Jatoi Panel won all the seats of DBA. A large number of senior and junior DBA members exercised their right to vote.

All candidates of the Sindh Dost Panel came out strong, defeating PPP’s People’s Lawyers Forum (PLF) panel. Babu Sarfraz Jatoi, who is also PML-N’s District Larkana president, secured 298 votes, whereas, his rival PPP candidate Inayatullah Morio received 121 votes.

In a closely contested election, Irshad Ali Chandio secured 213 votes for the post of vice president while his rival Akbar Dahar secured 202 votes. Imran Abbasi won the seat of General Secretary by obtaining 202 votes while his opponent Ahmedullah Bhutto was only able to get 102 votes. Abbasi is also a leader of anti-PPP Alliance known as Larkana Awami Ittehad.

Ajmer Bhutto secured 234 votes for the seat of Joint Secretary and PPP’s Zafarullah Bhutto could only obtain 180 votes. For the seat of library secretary, Aijaz Ali Sangi secured 213 votes whereas his rival fell short by only four votes, bagging 209. For the post of treasurer, Mazhar Ali Bhutto obtained 235 votes while his opponent Abdul Qadir Abro bagged 177 votes.

PPP also faced a defeat in the management committee elections. The party’s People’s Lawyers Forum has been winning the DBA elections since the birth of DBA in Larkana. For the first time in history, however, the party has faced a comprehensive defeat in the home district of the Bhutto leaders.

Sarfraz Jatoi and his group distributed sweets among the supporters after their victory. Talking to reporters, Jatoi said that his faith in the people of Larkana had been rewarded.