Pirs and Syeds dominate constituencies in Khairpur Mir's district would witness an interesting contest on National Assembly and provincial assembly seats. This is probably one of the few constituencies where feudal and tribal influence is non-existent. It is not a feudal dominated constituency by any means. Khairpur Mir's is considered to be a land of saints and as a result the dominance of Pirs and Syeds.
Ground realities suggest that PPPP would have an easy sailing on one National Assembly and three provincial assembly seats, but on the remaining five seats - two National Assembly and three provincial assembly seats - PML (F) would give a tough time to PPPP candidates. Interestingly, PML-F's Syeds would face PPPP Syeds on one National Assembly and three provincial assembly seats. The contest, according to local observers, would be close to say the least. Syeds are contesting on three other seats, but are opposed by other castes.
PML-N is fielding Syed Ghous Ali Shah on one National Assembly seat where he will face Nawab Wasan and on one provincial assembly seat where he will face Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Ghous Ali Shah, according to local observers, stands no chance on either of these seats. It would be interesting to watch two former chief ministers, Qaim Ali Shah and Ghous Ali Shah facing each other on the provincial assembly seat.
It is also interesting to note that Pir Syed Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi (Pir Pagara), the chief of PML-F, and his brother Pir Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi have brought in their elder sons to contest on provincial assembly seats, challenging PPPP candidates. If anybody wants to witness real competition between two natural rivals PPPP and PML-F, he or she should focus the Khairpur Mir's district which was a state during the era of British Raj. Now, this area has been divided in small fiefdoms dominated by Pirs and Syeds and some of PPPP Jiyalas-turned-Waderas.
According to constituency-wise analysis, NA-215 is the first National Assembly seat of district, from where PPPP's Nawab Khan Wasan was elected MNA in 2008. The PPPP has again fielded him against veteran politician Syed Ghous Ali Shah who is the President of PML-N's Sindh chapter and candidate of Ten-Party-Alliance.
An independent candidate, Engineer Sher Mohammad Phulpoto, who is a rich social worker, is also running his election campaign on this seat, but the actual competition is emerging between Wasan and Shah, local political observers claimed. They further maintained that PPPP candidates served the people of District Khairpur Mir's so it could be said that Wasan can defeat former chief minister Sindh, but after a competition.
NA-216: PPPP's Sajid Banbhan, who was an MPA in the last provincial assembly, is facing Syed Sadrudin Shah, a heavyweight of PML-F who won this seat in the 2008 elections despite the sympathy vote after Benazir's assassination. Although, Sajid Banbhan has a "good say" among the people, but Sadarudin Shah wields considerable influence. Banbhan can give a tough time to Syed and the margin between the winner and the runner up here would be of just a few thousand votes, local observers claimed.
NA-217: Syed Javaid Ali Shah, the nephew of Syed Qaim Ali Shah who joined PPPP during the mid 2011, is candidate on this constituency, another Syed of PML-F Syed Kazim Ali Shah is his major rival. Local observers see a tough competition brewing on this seat, as Javaid Shah who was not part of PPPP-led Sindh government. He can attract voters by making new promises.
PS-29 (Khairpur-I): Two former Sindh chief ministers PPPP's Syed Qaim Ali Shah and PML-N's Syed Ghous Ali Shah are facing each other on this seat. An independent candidate Mubeen Phulpoto, who was Chief of Asif Zardari Rihaee Committee, who is not with PPPPP now, is also a heavyweight who can secure a good number of votes. The actual competition, however, is between the two Syeds.
Local observers claim that this is a clear PPPP seat and Qaim Ali Shah could easily win this constituency. PS-30 (Khairpur-II): In a move to continue the hereditary politics, Pir Pagara has fielded his elder son Syed Rashid Shah on this seat against PPPP's Syed Bachal Shah Jilani.
An independent candidate Barrister Zamir Ghumro is also a candidate on this seat and he can sweep a healthy share of registered votes, but the main competition would be between the two Syeds. Local observers claim that Pir Pagara's son can beat Bachal Shah if he continues his election campaign on the right track. PS-31 (Khairpur-III): PPPP has allocated ticket here to a new face namely Zahid Banbhan's brother Sajid Banbhan, a former MPA. He is now contesting election on this National Assembly seat.
PML-F's heavyweight Dr Rafiq Banbhan, a former provincial minister, is his major rival. Local Observers seeing a tough competition between the two Banbhans. PS-32 (Khairpur-IV): Sindh's former home minister Manzoor Hussein Wasan is contesting election as a PPPP candidate on this seat. PML-F has fielded a new face from the Talpur family - Mir Shahnawaz Talpur - against Wasan. But this seat would also be won by PPPP, local observers claimed.
PS-33 (Khairpur-V): Two Pirs, including the Pir of Ranipur, Syed Mashooq Shah, of PML-F and Pir of Ranipur Syed Fazul Shah Jilani are facing each other on this seat in Ranipur. Local political observers are also seeing tough competition on this seat. PS-34 (Khairpur-VI): PML-F Sindh's President Pir Syed Sadrudin Shah Rashdi also followed his elder brother Pir Pagara's lead and introduced his son Pir Syed Ismail Shah Rashdi on this seat. PPPP's Naeem Ahmed Kharal, who was an MPA from the same seat in the last Sindh Assembly, is again a candidate of the party, facing his natural rival of PML-F. Local political observers also see a tough competition on this seat.