District East, with a population of almost four million people, is a diverse and densely populated area of Karachi. Known for its educational institutions and industrial presence, it is an important district in the city.
Originally created over 50 years ago, District East has seen various administrative changes over the years, mainly driven by the ruling Pakistan Peoples’ Party. These changes have led to the district being divided into different towns and then being restored under the PPP government.
In the 2018 elections, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) won all four National Assembly seats in District East, breaking the long-standing hold of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on the district.
For the upcoming February 8 elections, the district’s four constituencies have been re-numbered after fresh delimitations. These constituencies are expected to see key contests among candidates from PTI, MQM-P, JI, and PPP.
In addition to four National Assembly seats, District East also has nine Sindh Assembly seats, with PTI winning eight out of nine seats in the 2018 general elections.
The elections on the provincial seats in the district are anticipated to bring surprises and upsets, given the challenges faced by the traditional parties. Winning margins on provincial assembly seats are typically thin due to the small size of the constituencies and the number of voters. Over 100 candidates are in the running for the upcoming elections.