April 17 by-election dubbed a ‘referendum’ on Zardari’s leadership, as mounting discontent pushes voters to challenge his party’s grip on power
By Imtiaz Hussain
UMERKOT: As political temperatures rise in Sindh, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh has launched a blistering critique of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), branding the upcoming NA-213 by-election as a referendum on the ruling party’s decades-long governance of the province.
Speaking to reporters in Umerkot, Sheikh pulled no punches as he accused the PPP leadership—specifically President Asif Ali Zardari—of presiding over what he called the “destruction of Sindh.” With the by-election scheduled for April 17, Sheikh portrayed the contest not as a routine electoral process but as a pivotal moment that could, in his words, redefine the political direction of Sindh.
“The people of Sindh are angry, and they are ready to speak through their vote,” he said, adding that the province had been forced to endure years of neglect, corruption, and mismanagement under PPP’s rule. “They have a certificate for the destruction of Sindh,” he alleged, accusing the party of systematically hollowing out institutions and failing to deliver on even the most basic public services.
The seat in question, NA-213, fell vacant following the death of veteran PPP politician Syed Yousuf Talpur, a figure long associated with the party’s deep roots in rural Sindh. While the PPP has historically maintained a strong grip over the constituency, Sheikh suggested that this time would be different. “On April 17, Sindh will rise against its enemies,” he declared, invoking a sense of populist resistance and political awakening.
PTI, which has often struggled to make inroads in Sindh’s interior regions, appears to be betting on growing public frustration to challenge the PPP’s dominance. Sheikh’s remarks are part of a broader strategy to paint the PPP as a relic of the past—out of touch with the aspirations of a younger, more politically aware electorate. Whether that strategy will translate into electoral gains remains uncertain, but the rhetoric has already injected fresh energy into the by-election campaign.
Observers say the contest is likely to be closely watched, not only for its outcome but for what it may reveal about shifting political winds in Sindh. For PTI, a strong performance could signal momentum in a province where the party has long been on the margins. For the PPP, defending the seat may now carry symbolic weight, seen as a test of whether its traditional base still holds in the face of mounting criticism.
