The elections of Senate would be held on March 2nd, 2012, according to the schedule announced by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Reliable sources inside the Bilwal House told Business Recorder on Saturday that central leadership of PPP had changed the party's old policy of awarding Senate tickets to heavyweights and this time round, ordinary workers had been given the tickets of Upper House of Parliament.
PPP had short-listed more than 30 candidates for the senate tickets including Senator Raza Rabbani, Mukhtiar Ahmed (Aajiz) Dhamrah, Saeed Ghani, Mohammad Panah Odho, Dr Karim Khuwaja, Hari Ram Kishori Lal, Sehar Kamran and Shahida Rehmani are on the top eight numbers, source told. While Sindh's member in National Finance Commission Dr Kaiser Bengali's name had been placed on number 9 of the final list, sources added.
When contacted, Mukhtiar Ahmed (Aajiz) Dhamrah confirmed it with the Business Recorder and said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah called him and other candidates at Chief Minister House and informed about Senate tickets. "Qaim Ali Shah met every candidate individually and informed about the decision of central leadership regarding the senate tickets," he added.
Dhamrah one of the Jiyalas is currently working as President Peoples Youth Wing (Sindh chapter) as well as the Co-ordinator of the country. He had been assigned this additional responsibility by Faryal Taplur in May 2011. Dhamrah started his political career with Peoples Barirra (Children) Sangat when he was studying in grade 7th. He belongs to Shahpur Chakar district Sanghar and went to jails many times.
Mohammad Panah Odho, one of the finalised candidates works as President PPP district Jacobabad. His father was also affiliated with PPP till his last breath. Odho faced many political cases and went to jails during democratic struggles. Saeed Ghani is son of Usman Ghani Shaheed diehard jiyala of PPP. Ghani served the party on many positions. Recently, he severed as General Secretary Karachi Division. Dr Karim Khuwaja, President of Peoples Doctors Forum (Sindh Chapter) is Psychiatrist by profession. He had been given the Senate ticket for reserve seat of Technocrat.
He has been affiliated with PPP for the last 25 years. He led the demonstration in Cadet College Petaro (during his studies) against the death sentence of Zulifqar Ali Bhutto. Later, Khuwaja went to Liaqat Medical College Jamshoro now called Liaqat University of Health and Sciences, for medical studies where he joined Sindh Peoples Students Federation (SPSF). He served on various positions in SPSF and joined Doctors' Forum after getting MBBS degree. He is also a Member Governing Body of SZABIST.
Sehar Kamran is a lady worker of PPP. She worked as President Peoples Students Federation (PSF) Karachi University (KU) during her studies. Similarly, Shahida Rehmani is also a lady worker of PPP and belongs to Karachi. This scribe failed to contact her despite many attempts.
Political observers are seeing this shift in PPP's policy as a part of campaign of upcoming general election that's why PPP leadership has ignored the applicants like Mirza Akhtiar Baig, Sharmila Farooqui, Makhdoom Raqfiq-u-Zaman, brother of Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Qazi Asad Abid, sitting MNA Mahesh Malani, MPA Humera Alwni, Pervaiz Ansari, Former District Nazim Khurshid Junejo, Salim Mandviwala and other heavyweights. It may be noted here that Peoples Secretariat Islamabad received 180 applications from Sindh only for the tickets of senate elections.