Re: Zulfiqar Mirza group wins all 14 wards in Badin
Yes I have been to Karachi, but not NA-246.
You can look at the positives from a margin of 70k defeat, but to me this is a pretty big number in support of MQM. NA-246 is one elections where you could not blame rigging in any shape or form but you might be able to in Raiwind. People came out in massive number to vote for MQM to save them. In my view, with limited resources, it is an absolute waste of money and time campaigning in areas where ethnic factor triumphs all other factors and merit. PTI is better off spending money and resources in areas where they are losing with much smaller margins and needless to say those areas are in Punjab, not in Sindh and Karachi. Of course Karachi contingent needs to do some homework too, but they pick better areas to work on.
I haven’t been to NA-246, but I am pretty sure it is not one those areas Imran or PTI workers can randomly go in and hold a jalsa. I am beyond confident that it is not anything like Model Town, Lahore! The totally unexpected and shocking vacancy of NA-246 provided a good excuse for PTI to go in there, but otherwise it is not one those areas that PTI can freely campaign in normal circumstances. Even Imran said that they mainly went in there to make a symbolic statement of courage against politics of fear. Yes it looks good on paper, makes a nice little cameo on PTI’s CV, but we need to be honest and stop pretending that these annual visits will bring any practical change. Maybe if by any chance PTI gets federal power, it will definitely more authority to make inroads in Sindh, but as a party, it stands no chance.
You cannot compare situation with Punjab with Sindh - comparatively, PTI or at least Imran had always enjoyed much bigger level of public sympathy and support in Punjab than in Karachi or Sindh where Imran’s personal image and background carries a lot of ethnic baggage.
So it leads back to the point that with limited resources, valuable time and vulnerable workers, pick your battles wisely.