A strong competition is expected in the by-election of PS-57 (Badin-I) as 19 candidates are contesting for the seat of MPA including PPP's Hasnain Mirza, PML-L's Syed Ali Bux (Papu) Shah, PML-N's Mir Manzoor Talpur, MQM's Ghazi Salahudin, SNP's Ashraf Noonari and others.
After the resignation of Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, 97,4,79 voters of the said constituency would caste their votes for the election of Member Provincial Assembly of Sindh on February 25, 2012. According to a final list of Election Commission of Pakistan available with Business Recorder, 19 candidates are contesting this by-election.
These, in addition to the above candidates, include 14 independent candidates. These are, namely, Punjoo Bheel Advocate, Pir Bux, Khan Sahib Jamali, Khuda Bux Mallah, Darya Khan, Devdas, Dr Abdul Aziz Memon, Ghulam Rasool Jamali, Karim Dino, Mohammad Ramzan Halo, Mohammad Hashim Dal, Moulana Abdullah Sindhi and Mir Abdullah Khan.
ECP has allocated election-symbols to all the candidates. 'Arrow' has been allocated to Hasnain Mirza, Bullock Cart to Papu Shah, Tiger to Mir Manzoor Talpur, Kite to Ghazi Salahudin and Iron has been allocated to SNP's Ashraf Noonari. While, Letter Box, Leaf, Television, Rabbit, Rickshaw, Sewing Machine, Slate, Gun, Parrot, Stag, Charpai, Flower vase, Tumbler and Mango symbols have been allocated to the independent candidates, the letter added. "Though, Dr Zulifqar Mirza was of the view that only few candidates would submit their forms for the by-election against his son Hasnain Mirza but it went the opposite way when 18 candidates refused to withdraw and vowed to contest by-election", a local political observer said.