PS Sindh Election: A Battle for Karachi and Rural Sindh

    The provincial assembly election in Sindh, scheduled for July 25, 2023, is expected to be a fierce contest between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the resurgent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the fractured Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The election will also determine the fate of the newly formed PS Sindh Electric, a provincial power regulatory authority that aims to improve energy equity and eliminate energy poverty in the province.

PPP’s stronghold in rural Sindh

The PPP has been ruling Sindh since 2008, and enjoys a strong support base in the rural areas of the province, especially in the districts of Larkana, Dadu, Jamshoro, Thatta, Badin, and Sanghar. The party has 98 seats in the 168-member Sindh Assembly, and is confident of retaining its majority in the upcoming election. The party’s chief minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, has been praised for his development projects and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province. The PPP also claims to have empowered the local governments and improved the delivery of public services in Sindh.

However, the PPP also faces several challenges, such as allegations of corruption, nepotism, and misgovernance. The party has been accused of neglecting the urban areas of the province, especially Karachi, the largest and most populous city of Pakistan. The PPP also faces a strong opposition from the PTI, which has emerged as the second largest party in Sindh, with 30 seats in the assembly. The PTI has been campaigning aggressively in the province, highlighting the issues of water scarcity, load shedding, garbage disposal, and law and order. The PTI’s leader, Imran Khan, has also promised to grant more autonomy and funds to the provincial government, if his party wins the election.

MQM’s decline in urban Sindh

The MQM, once the dominant party in the urban areas of Sindh, especially Karachi and Hyderabad, has seen a steep decline in its popularity and influence in the recent years. The party has been marred by internal rifts, defections, and factionalism, following the controversial speech of its founder and leader, Altaf Hussain, in August 2016. The party split into two factions, MQM-Pakistan and MQM-London, with the former led by Farooq Sattar, and the latter by Hussain. The MQM-Pakistan further split into MQM-PIB and MQM-Bahadurabad, over the issue of Senate tickets in 2018. The MQM has also lost many of its supporters and workers to the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), a new political party formed by Mustafa Kamal, a former MQM leader and mayor of Karachi, in 2016.

The MQM currently has 21 seats in the Sindh Assembly, down from 51 in 2013. The party faces a tough challenge from the PTI, which has gained popularity in the urban areas of Sindh, especially among the youth and the educated class. The PTI has also formed alliances with some smaller parties, such as the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), to challenge the MQM’s stronghold in the urban constituencies. The MQM, on the other hand, has been trying to revive its appeal among the Muhajir community, a term used for the Urdu-speaking migrants who settled in Sindh after the partition of India in 1947. The MQM has also been demanding more representation and rights for the Muhajirs, who constitute about 20% of the population of Sindh.

PS Sindh Electric: A game changer?

One of the key issues that may influence the outcome of the PS Sindh election is the establishment of PS Sindh Electric, a provincial power regulatory authority that aims to regulate the generation, transmission, distribution, and tariff of electric power services within the province. The Sindh cabinet approved the formation of PS Sindh Electric in April 2023, after the Sindh Assembly passed a bill for the same in June 2022. PS Sindh Electric is expected to improve the energy situation in the province, which suffers from chronic load shedding, power theft, and high electricity bills. PS Sindh Electric also plans to utilize the renewable and indigenous resources of the province, such as coal, solar, and wind, to generate cheap and clean electricity.

However, PS Sindh Electric also faces several hurdles, such as legal challenges, political opposition, and technical difficulties. The federal government has challenged the legality of PS Sindh Electric, arguing that it violates the constitution and encroaches upon the domain of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), the federal power regulator. The PTI and the MQM have also opposed the creation of PS Sindh Electric, alleging that it is a ploy by the PPP to monopolize the power sector and exploit the consumers. Moreover, PS Sindh Electric also faces the challenge of building the infrastructure and capacity to generate and distribute electricity in the province, which requires huge investments and expertise.

Conclusion

The PS Sindh election is a crucial test for the political parties and the people of Sindh, as it will determine the future direction and development of the province. The election will also reflect the changing dynamics and preferences of the voters, who are faced with multiple issues and choices. The PPP, the PTI, and the MQM are the main contenders in the election, but they also have to contend with the smaller parties, the independent candidates, and the new entrants, such as PS Sindh Electric. The election will also have implications for the national politics and the federal-provincial relations, as Sindh is the second largest and the most diverse province of Pakistan.

2023 Election 

صوبائی اسمبلی سندھ

پی ، ایس ۔ 01 جیکب آباد 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 10 لاڑکانہ

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پی ، ایس ۔ 14 شہدادکوٹ ۔  

پی ، ایس ۔ 15 شہدادکوٹ ۔ 

پی ، ایس ۔ 16 شہداد کوٹ ۔ 

پی ، ایس ۔ 17 شہداد کوٹ  

پی ، ایس ۔ 18 گھوٹکی

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پی ، ایس ۔ 20 گھوٹکی

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پی ، ایس ۔ 22 سکھر 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 26 خیرپور ۔

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پی ، ایس ۔ 32 نوشہرو فیروز ۔  

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پی ، ایس ۔ 36  نواب شاہ 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 40 سانگھڑ 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 45 میرپور خاص 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 48 میرپورخاص

پی ، ایس ۔ 49 عمر کوٹ

پی ، ایس ۔ 50 عمر کوٹ

پی ، ایس ۔ 51 عمر کوٹ

پی ، ایس ۔ 52 تھرپارکر 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 55 تھرپارکر 

پی ، ایس ۔ 56  مٹیاری

پی ، ایس ۔ 57 مٹیاری 

پی ، ایس ۔ 58  ٹنڈوالہیار ۔

پی ، ایس ۔ 59 ٹنڈوالہیار ۔ 

پی ، ایس ۔ 60 حیدراباد

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پی ، ایس ۔ 66 ٹنڈو محمد خان 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 68 بدین ۔  

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پی ، ایس ۔ 73 سجاول

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پی ، ایس ۔ 75 ٹھٹھہ

پی ، ایس ۔ 76 ٹھٹھہ

پی ، ایس ۔ 77 جامشورو 

پی ، ایس ۔ 78 جامشورو 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 80 دادو

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پی ، ایس ۔ 84 ملیر کراچی ۔

پی ، ایس ۔ 85 ملیر کراچی ۔  

پی ، ایس ۔ 86 ملیر کراچی 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 90 کورنگی کراچی 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 97 ایسٹ کراچی ۔ 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 104 ایسٹ کراچی

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پی ، ایس ۔ 106 ساؤتھ کراچی

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پی ، ایس ۔ 108 ساؤتھ کراچی 

پی ، ایس ۔ 109 ساؤتھ کراچی

پی ، ایس ۔ 110 ساؤتھ کراچی

پی ، ایس ۔ 111 کیماڑی کراچی 

پی ، ایس ۔ 112 کیماڑی کراچی 

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پی ، ایس ۔ 115 کیماڑی کراچی

پی ، ایس ۔ 116 ویسٹ کراچی 

پی ، ایس ۔ 117 ویسٹ  کراچی 

پی ، ایس ۔ 118 ویسٹ  کراچی

پی ، ایس ۔ 119 ویسٹ کراچی 

پی ،  ایس ۔ 120 ویسٹ کراچی 

پی ، ایس ۔ 121 ویسٹ کراچی 

پی ، ایس ۔ 122 سینٹرل کراچی 

پی ، ایس ۔ 123 سینٹرل کراچی

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پی ، ایس ۔ 129 سینٹرل کراچی

پی ، ایس ۔ 130 سینٹرل کراچی

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Ayoub Bridge: A Marvel of Engineering and History in Pakistan

The Ayoub bridge is a railway bridge over the River Indus between Rohri and Sukkur in Sindh, Pakistan. It was inaugurated by President Ayub Khan in 1962, and it is the world’s third longest railway arch span and the first railway bridge in the world to be slung on coiled wire rope suspenders. The bridge is about 806 feet long, 247 feet high and cost 21.6 million PKR. It has served for 50 years by providing a strong link for rail traffic.

The bridge was designed by David B. Steinman, a renowned American engineer who also reconstructed the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The contractor was Dorman Long Gammon of London, famous for the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932. The construction of the bridge was challenging, as the river bed had rocks that did not allow the pillars to withstand the constant flow and pressure of water. Therefore, four huge cemented abutments were made on each side of the river banks, and then the steel arch was lifted and fixed on them with the help of cranes and cables.

The bridge is a symbol of engineering excellence and national pride for Pakistan. It also has historical and cultural significance, as it replaced the old Lansdowne Bridge that was used for boat and bicycle transport between Sukkur and Rohri. The bridge offers a spectacular view of the river and the surrounding landscape, especially at sunset. You can watch a video of the bridge from a train journey here

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Raja Dahir: The Last Hindu King of Sindh and His Heroic Resistance Against the Arab Invasion

 Raja Dahir, a Hindu king of the Brahmin lineage, was the last ruler of Sindh before it was conquered by the Arabs. Sindh is now a part of Pakistan, but at that time it also included parts of Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Pakistan and Iran. Raja Dahir was born in 663 CE and ascended the throne in 695 CE.

In 711 CE, his kingdom was invaded by the Arab Umayyad Caliphate, led by Muhammad bin Qasim. The invasion was triggered by a pirate raid off the coast of Debal, which resulted in the loss of gifts to the caliph from the king of Serendib (modern Sri Lanka)

Raja Dahir fought bravely against the invaders, but was killed in the Battle of Aror near the Indus River. His wife and other women of his household committed Jauhar (self-immolation) to avoid capture by the enemy. His daughters, Surya Devi and Preamala Devi, were taken as prisoners and buried alive in a wall. 

Raja Dahir is regarded as a national hero by some Shia and Sunni Muslims of Sindh, as well as by some Hindus. He is remembered for his courage, generosity and secularism. He is also seen as a symbol of resistance against foreign aggression and religious persecution.

Rohri Saaten jo Aashan: The Legend and History of the Seven Sisters’ Shrine in Sindh

 Rohri Saaten jo Aashan (Sindhi: روهڙي ستين جو آستان) is a historical site in Sindh, Pakistan, where the graves of seven women are located. According to legend, these women were part of the army of Muhammad bin Qasim, who invaded Sindh in the 8th century.

They chose to live in a cave on the bank of the Indus river, and prayed to God to protect their honour from the Hindu ruler Raja Dahir. God answered their prayers and buried them alive in the cave. 

Their graves are now revered as a sacred place, especially by women who seek healing and blessings from the Seven Sisters There are different versions of this story, and some historians doubt its authenticity. Some say that the women came before Muhammad bin Qasim, and others say that they were not related to him at all. Some also suggest that the story is influenced by the Hindu practice of sati, where widows burned themselves on their husbands’ funeral pyres.

The site is also known as the tomb of Mir Abu al-Qasim Namkeen, a ruler of Sukkur who built the complex in the 16th century. He used ochre stone and blue tiles to decorate the graves and the mosque. He also made rooms for travellers and students, and entertained his guests with music and fruits on full moon nights. He and his son Mir Abu al-Baqa Amir Khan are also buried there. The site is a popular tourist attraction and a cultural heritage of Sindh. Many people visit the site to admire its architecture and learn about its history. Some also believe that the site has mystical powers and can cure illnesses and grant wishes. Women are allowed to enter the cave and pray at the graves of the seven sisters, while men are not