KARACHI – If there’s one National Assembly constituency in Karachi that thePakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) can actually hope to win, it’s NA-249(West-II). Former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, the current PML-Nchief, is contesting for the seat and, to pave the way for his win, theparty has reportedly already made some arrangements.

While the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl(JUI-F) have formally announced their support for Sharif in theconstituency, reports suggest that the PML-N is in talks with other playersas well.

If a major contender such as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P)also throws its weight behind Sharif, it may be enough for the PML-N tosecure the seat because the party already has a considerable vote bank inthe constituency.

NA-249 is a new constituency, comprising the localities of Baldia Town,Ittehad Town, Rasheedabad and Mominabad, which previously fell under theadjoining constituencies of NA-239, NA-240, NA-241 and NA-242.

Despite the multi-ethnic composition of the constituency, the MQM has beenwinning this seat traditionally. With a population of 782,776, it is thethird largest constituency in the city’s largest district.

However, the total number of registered voters here is 342,166, of whom 37per cent are women.