Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have locked horns over NA-246 and are trying to woe Ismaili voters, Pakistan Today has learned.
The community is a game changer for the current by-elections. Leaders from both PTI and MQM have been holding meetings with associations and representatives from the community to get an edge over one another during the by-polls. The community will likely make their presence felt during the upcoming by-elections.
Kareemabad, bordering Liaquatabad, Ghareebabad, and Federal B Area, has become a hub of political activity in these days. The population of this neighborhood is predominantly Ismaili. Kareemabad is named after Prince Kareem Aga Khan IV. The area’s pivotal place is the Ismaili Jamaat Khana, which is one of the largest in Pakistan.
After Garden, Kareemabad has emerged as a centre for Ismailis. A large number of people belonging to the Ismaili school of thought have settled around the Jamaat Khana over a period of time.
A member of the Ismaili community, while remaining anonymous, told Pakistan Today that the Ismailis have a strong vote bank in Azizabad. “Ismailis are fed up of the MQM and they want to vote for the PTI. However, the votes for the PTI are conditional since they want safety in exchange for the future,” he said.
“Ismailis are peace loving people and have been voting for the MQM unwillingly in the past,” he added.
PTI has caught onto the sentiment it seems. PTI leaders have been holding meetings with Ismailis and assured them that they will be provided them with security if PTI wins the by-elections.
The PTI chairman in his speech on the last day said that Prince Kareem Aga Khan hailed from Karachi and requested Ismailis to vote for PTI in the coming by-elections.
A delegation of MQM led by Dr Farooq Sattar held meetings with leaders as well, MQM central Executive Committee (CEC) Joint In-charge Amin-ul Haque reported. “Dr Farooq Sattar was accompanied by Dr Khalid Maqbol Siddiqui, Rasheed Godail, and MQM NA-246 candidate Kunwar Naveed Jameel,” he informed.
“Thousands of Ismailis are voters of the NA-246 constituency and after meeting with leaders of the community, MQM is hopeful that they will vote for MQM in this by-election as they did in the past,” Haque maintained.
The Ismailis are the most peace loving community in the world. They are highly educated. Mostly they are businessmen, doctors and social workers and are involved in promoting education, healthcare and other social activities. There are other communities like Memons, Parsis (though they are very few left) and other Gujrati speaking communities, who are doing a lot for the peope of Karachi. Whoever win the election, must provided them protection all the time.
Every one should be safe in Pakistan and specialyy in Karachi.It is time foor army and present ruling parties in province nd centre to get strict against crimnals accross the board.I am very proud of angers for thier bold steps.Let us as a nation we should support our armed forces to finish these termites from Pakistan .
Pakistan must take solid steps against all type of crimnals.Sind government need to be more active in providing law and order in thier own back yard.It seems like they do not have will power or they themselves are involve in crimnal activities.
you have hit the nail on the spot its very true sind govt is itself very much involved in all the criminal activities in the whole provice thats why they work with hand in hand with mqm
Ismaili's are most peace full and happy living community, inshallah they will vote for PTI bcoz they wan't peace in pakistan not batha khori.
Everyone knows ismailis are paying batha for they Prayer halls(jamatkhanas ) shame on you MQM.
Inshallah Imran ismali (pTI) k jitey ge
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