As many as 21 businessmen and industrialists, including one businesswoman, are taking part in general elections on various political parties' tickets or as independent contestants from Karachi alone to get representation in national and provincial legislatures.
They asserted they are no more interested in reading merely welcome addresses for political leaders. Therefore, they are fielded in election contests. The PPP, MQM, PML-N, TIP, MMA, PSP and other parties awarded their candidacies to such aspirants with a view to win business community's sympathy.
However, the business fraternity also remains divided as the Businessmen Group chairman Siraj Kassim Teli in several meetings made clear that no one from his group's platform would take part in general elections, albeit aspirants may do so on their own instead of using BMG platform.
Mustafa Kamal-led Pak Sarzameen Party has nominated Arshad Vohra, former chairman Site Association of Industry (SAI), to contest election for National Assembly seat from NA-256. Vohra who is now Karachi's deputy mayor, was elected unopposed as member Sindh Assembly from PS-115 on MQM ticket in 2013.
The NA-244 is the constituency where three businessmen are in the run. Of them, FPCCI vice president Zahid Saeed has been fielded by MMA; former federal finance minister Miftah Ismail is PML-N's candidate while ex-president of KCCI Syed Shafiq is contesting on PSP ticket.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has fielded former chairman of Rice Exports Association Mahmood Moulvi in electoral battle for NA 255. MQM-P's candidature went to Amir Waliuddin Chishti for NA 256 election. The PSP has nominated former chairman PTA Danish Khan as its contestant for NA 241 election.
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has fielded Ghulam Hashim Noorani, associated with medicines business, for PS-106 electoral contest. Noman Badar Farooqui is contesting election from PS-101. Muhammad Hussain is MMA's nominee for NA-247 election fray. Faisal Moiz Khan, PSP's candidate from PS-129, is son of Captain Moiz Khan (retd), patron-in-chief of NKATI. Muhammad Junaid Maikati is MMA's contestant from PS-103. Samina Bilal is in the run for PS-107.
The PML-N has fielded FPCCI's former vice president Waseem Vohra as contender for PS-110, Jawaid Mir for PS-111 and Haji Shahjahan for NA-243.
The PPP has nominated ex-VP KATI Amjad Ullah Khan as the party candidate for electoral battles from NA-253 and Abdul Rashid Noorani for PS-109 electoral battles.
The PSP's tickets also went to Farooq Jamil for NA-237 and Muhammad Zubair for NA-238. Ayaz Memon Motiwala is contesting from three constituencies NA-243, PS-110 and 111.