The hotly-contested constituency of NA-247, Karachi District South-II encapsulates the posh localities of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Clifton Cantonment as well as lesser developed areas in Saddar and Civil Lines, cutting across socio-economic classes.
With a population of 876, 957, the constituency also comprises two provincial assembly seats – PS-110 and PS-111. A total of 23 candidates are vying for the NA seat while 45 are in the run for the two PS seats.
Although Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has won three general elections – in 1988, 1990 and 2008, and one by-poll in 2007 from here, it is difficult to suggest that the constituency is the stronghold of any one political party.
Previously known as NA-250 and NA-191 even earlier, the constituency’s voters have elected the candidates of nearly all mainstream political parties with the exception of the Pakistan Peoples Party since 1988. The last three general elections indicate that no political party or alliance has been able to secure the seat consecutively.
Earlier, the constituency comprised of mostly the posh areas, however, the new delimitation has included parts of the old city areas like Kharadar and Ranchore Line to it. This makes the competition here even tougher.
With prominent candidates like Farooq Sattar of MQM-Pakistan, Fauzia Kasuri of Pak Sarzameen Party, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and rights activists Jibran Nasir (independent) pitted against each other, a heavy-weight contest is definitely expected in NA-247.
