A small trader Sharjeel Goplani, on Friday submitted his nomination papers to contest the upcoming elections, becoming the first representative of the non-elite businessmen community of the city to go for election. Sharjeel Goplani, who serves as general secretary of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), submitted his nomination papers for PS 111 and 116 to fight elections for provincial legislature slot. He is the candidate of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
"It is the first ever evidence that a political party gave chance to a small trader to fight elections in the country history," said Chairman AKTI, Muhammad Atiq Mir, thanking the MQM chief, Altaf Hussain for his confidence in small traders. The growing violence and chaos largely paralysed the city's peace and crippled business activities, which left the small traders 'completely' perturbed and anxious. "In such a situation, the significance of election of small traders also received importance," he said.
He hoped the election of small traders to the parliament and provincial legislature will help resolve their problems and provide an 'effective and strong' voice in the corridors of powers. Atiq Mir assured the entire community that if the representative of small traders got elected will jointly work for the betterment of city's dwindling trade and make efforts to restore peace.