ALMOST four million people live within the boundaries of district East of Karachi, which is one of the most populated districts of the metropolis with diverse segments of society, a variety of neighbourhoods and income groups belonging to all classes.

The district can be termed a hub of both education and industrial production as four major seats of learning the University of Karachi, NED Engineering University, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology and the Aga Khan Medical University are situ-ated in this district with a host of industries.

Originally created more than 50 years ago, in 1972, the district has seen many administrative changes carried out over the years by the ruling Pakistan Peoples` Party, which governed the province most of the years.

Critics saw the changes as an attempt by the party to consolidate its vote bank mainly on ethnic grounds and tighten its grip on the administrative affairs.

Under the devolution plan introduced by General PervezMusharraf, district East was abolished in the year 2000 and divided into four towns but it was later restored under the PPP government.

In 2013 three eastern towns of the district were cut out to form a new district named Korangi.

In 2022, district East was divided into five towns Sohrab Goth Town, Safoora Town, Gulshan Town, Jinnah Town and Chanesar Town with 43 union councils and 172 wards.

But when it comes to electoral history of the district, it witnessed a surprisein 2018 general elections when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf emerged as the majority party in the city, including district East, breaking decades of stranglehold of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on the district.

The four seats of National Assembly NA-235, NA-236, NA-237 and NA-238 fall in the district where a total of 1.6 mil-lion voters will exercise their democratic right of franchise on February 8.

All four constituencies in the district have been re-numbered for Feb 8 elections after fresh delimitations.

In 2018, the district`s four constituencies were tagged as NA-242, NA-243, NA-244 and NA-245.

The PTI in 2018 elections enjoyed almost a clean sweep in the district winning all four National Assembly seats and eight out of nine Sindh Assembly seats.

But with the party facing serious challenges after May 9 violence, would it be able to repeat the history? It remains to be seen.

NA-235 The constituency comprises outskirts of Karachi with areas including Ahsanabad, New SabziMandi, areas along the Superhighway, Scheme-33, Ayub Goth, Malir Cantt, Saadi Town, Amroha Society, parts of Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Jamali Goth, Gabol Goth and Sohrab Goth.

With population of 1.024 million people and 170,176 registered voters 97,741 males and 72,435 females the constituency largely comprises new housing societies in Scheme 33 and settlers from different provinces along the Superhighway.

In 2018 polls, the constituency was numbered as NA-242 where PTI`s Saif ur Rehman Khan emerged as victorious bagging 27,333 votes and PPP`s Muhammad Iqbal Sand stood second with 11,823 votes.

For Feb 8 polls, a total of 24 candidates are in the field with key contest is expected among PTI-backed Saif ur Rehman Khan, who is now contesting as MQM-P`s Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Dr Mairaj ul Huda Siddiqi of the Jamaat-iIslami (JI) and PPP`s Muhammad Asif Khan.

NA-236 This constituency largely comprises Gulistan-i-Jauhar and Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

The constituency is significant in a sense that it was the one from where former prime minister Imran Khan had also contested and emerged as victorious bagging 91,373 votes in 2018 general elections. Then the constituency was numbered as NA-243.

Apart from major blocks of Gulshan-iIqbal and Gulistan-i-Jauhar, other areas under the constituency include Ziaul Haq Colony, Shanti Nagar, Abul Hasan IsphahaniRoad andparts of Cantonment Board.

Former PTI MNA and social activist Alamgir Khan also emerged as victorious in the same constituency in the bypolls after the seat fell vacant following withdrawal of Imran Khan.

Alamgir Khan is again contesting asan independent candidate with more than 30 other candidates from here.

The key contest is expected among PTI-backed Alamgir Khan, JI`s Dr Osama Razi, MQM-P`s Hassan Sabir and PPP`s Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi.

NA-237 In 2018 general elections this constituency was numbered as NA-244 from where former federal minister and PTI leader Ali Zaidi had won. He later on quit the party and politics after the May 9 incidents.

The constituency primarily consists of Lines Area, parts of Faisal Cantonment, Azam Basti, Chanesar Goth, Mehmoodabad, Baloch Colony, Dhoraji Colony, Ferozabad, Hill Park, Naval Colony, Karsaz, KDA Scheme One, parts of Gulistan-i-Johar, Tariq Road, Manzoor Colony, Karachi Administration Society Block 7 & 8, PECHS, Muhammad Ali Housing Society and parts of neighbourhoods along Sharea Faisal.

Mr Zaidi of the PTI had bagged 69,475 votes in 2018 polls. Among heavyweights, MQM-P`s Abdul Rauf Siddiqui is contest-ing from this constituency, who will face PTI-backed Advocate Zahoor Mehsud, JPs Irfan Ahmed and PPP`s Asad Alam Niazi.

NA-238 The constituency comprises areas around Bahadurabad and Sharfabad off Lines Area.

It also comprises parts of Jamshed Quarters Subdivision, and Firozabad Subdivision. In 2018 general elections Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain of PTI won the elections from this constituency which at that time was numbered as NA-245.

He had defeated Dr Farooq Sattar of MQM-P bagging 56,664 votes.

After his death, Mahmud B Maulvi had contested the by-poll in August 2022 and won the elections by grabbing 29,475 votes.

However, Mr Maulvi was among those PTI leaders who later on quit the party after May 9 incidents. He became the founding member of the newly-established Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party, which provided a platform to leaders and legislators who quit the PTI after the May 9 violence.This time the PTI is backing its imprisoned Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh as an independent candidate to contest from the constituency. He would face MQM-P`s Sadiq Iftikhar, JI`s advocate Saifuddin and PPP`s Pir Omer Uddin Zafar.

Nine Sindh Assembly seats District East has nine Sindh Assembly seats whereas more than 100 candidates are in the run for Feb 8 polls.

The number of district`s PA constituencies in the ECP scheme begings with PS-97 and ends on PS-105.

In 2018 general elections, the PTI won eight out of nine seats.

Since the parties which have a history of sweeping polls in district are facing different challenges, analysts believe the elections on the provincial seats in the district could lead to surprises and upsets.

It needs to be mentioned here that winning margins on provincial assembly seats are always remain thin when compared with National Assembly seats due to small size of provincial constituencies and number of voters in them.