A total of 29 candidates withdrew from the candidatureship for contesting elections on five National Assembly seats of Old Hyderabad based on Matiari, Hyderabad and Tando Allahyar districts. After withdrawal of 29 candidates, 51 candidates are now contesting general elections to be held on January 8, 2008.
After scrutiny of papers, the returning officers on December 3, 2007 declared the nomination papers of 80 candidates valid for contest of elections. The central leader of Pakistan People's Party Makhdoom Amin Fahim, central leader Jamiat-e-Ulmae Pakistan Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair, leader of PML (Q) Hussaini Shahabuddin, leader of PML (N) Sahibzada Shabbir Hassan Ansari, Makhdoom Shahnawaz Qureshi, Adeeba Gul Magsi and Mir Muhammad Khokhar are among the prominent who have decided to contest the elections.
Those who have withdrawn their nomination papers included Makhdoom Rafik Zaman, Makhdoom Jameel-u-Zaman, Makhdoom Fazal Hussain and Makhdoom Atta Hussain Qureshi from NA-218 Old Hyderabad-I (Matiari cum Hyderabad), Irfan Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Pervaiz Qureshi, Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Israr Ahmed, Mirza Ashique Hussain Baig and Anwar Aleem from NA-219 Old Hyderabad-II, Shafiq Ahmed Qureshi, Muhammad Mubeen, Arif Pasha, Muhammad Maqbool Ahmed, Muhammad Umer, Niaz Ahmed Qureshi, Rashid Khilji and Shabbir Hussain from NA-220 Old Hyderabad-III, Makhdoom Fazal Hussain Qureshi, Makhdoom Atta Hussain Qureshi, Abdul Latif Ansari, Ghulam Sarwar Baloch, Aziz Ahmed Soomro and Muhammad Yousuf Leghari from NA-221 Old Hyderabad-IV (Hyderabad cum Matiari), Moulana Dost Muhammad Farooqui, Dr Irfan Gul Magsi, Abdul Sattar Qaimkhani, Sajid Wahab Khanzada and Ali Muhammad Walhari from NA-223 Old Hyderabad-VI (Tando Allahyar cum Matiari).
According to deputy election commissioner Hyderabad, the general elections 2008 are being conducted on basis of voter lists and limitations of 2002, therefore, the election commission of Pakistan has appointed district and sessions judge Hyderabad as the district returning officer for conducting elections on NA and PA constituencies in Matiari, Hyderabad and Tando Allahyar districts.
After withdrawal of four candidates from the candidatureship from NA-218 Old Hyderabad-I, there are 11 candidates who are contesting the elections. The candidates included Makhdoom Shahnawaz Qureshi, Makhdoom Ameen Fahim, Allah Dino Hajano, Rana Fateh Muhammad, Allah Warayo Khaskheli, Syed Ghulam Shabbir Shah, Syed Shah Muhammad Shah, Syed Bachal Shah, Mufti Wali Muhammad Leghari, Peeral Majeedano and Moulana Rajab Ali Noohpoto.
On NA-219 Old Hyderabad-II, eight candidates are now in the field of contest. The names of the contesting candidates included Syed Tayab Hussain, Abid Mehmood Khan Ghori, Ali Muhammad Sehto, Samiuddin Sajid, Sikandar Khan, Anwar Zeb, Abdul Rasheed and Shabbir Ahmed Hyderi.
On NA-220 Old Hyderabad-III, nine candidates are in the field of contest who are Muhammad Irfan, Salahuddin, Muhammad Suleman, Jameel Ahmed, Saghir Ahmed, Sahibzada Shabbir Hassan Ansari, Qari Mushtaq Ahmed Farooque, Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair and Muhammad Irfan Qureshi.
On NA-221 Old Hyderabad IV (Hyderabad cum Matiari), candidates namely Syed Ameer Shah Jamote, Syed Hussain Tariq alias Tariq Shah, Taj Muhammad Nahiyon, Hussaini Shahabuddin Shah, Abdul Moeed Rajput, Dr Shah Faisal Sanjrani, Dr Mumtaz Ali Akbar Ali, Makhdoom Khuram Suhail and Nawab Arshad Talpur are in the field of contest.
On NA-223 Old Hyderabad-VI (Tando Allahyar cum Matiari), 14 candidates are still in the field of contest. The names of contesting candidates included Amanullah Khaskheli, Abdul Ghani Dars, Pir Fazal Ali Shah Jilani, Imdad Hussain Pitafi, Ali Murad Pitafi, Yar Muhammad Khaskheli, Shamshad Sattar Bachani, Zulfiqar Bachani, Adeeba Gul Magsi, Mian Manzoor Hussain, Muhammad Saleh Kumbhar, Mehmood Qadir Khanzada, Aijaz Ahmed Helepoto and Mir Muhammad Khokhar.