UMERKOT: A total of 13 candidates, among them former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Syed Amir Ali Shah, son of late MPA Syed Ali Mardan Shah, submitted nomination papers for by-election on PS-52 (Umerkot) on Wednesday, the last day for submission.

Sarfraz Ali Shah, brother of provincial minister Sardar Ali Shah; Laikhraj Mal Malhi, brother of MNA Lal Malhi, advocate Zulfiqar Ali Guju, advocate Lalchand Bheel, two female candidates Pireh Mallah and Rubina Mallah both from Kotri are also in the run for the seat. The by-election is scheduled to be held on April 15 according to Election Commission of Pakistan.

Analysts see the real contest between PPP`s Amir Ali Shah and Arbab Ghulam Rahim, former Sindh CM and a joint candidate of Grand Democratic Alliance and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

The seat has fallen vacant due to sudden death of PPP MPA Ali Mardan Shah and the party has given ticket his son. His father had easily won the seat eight times on PPP`s ticket in 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2008, 2013 and 2018. He was twice defeated by Syed Muzzafar Hussain Shah of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional in 1990 and 1997.