According to Mirani, people in Sindh are looking for a viable alternative to the Pakistan Peoples Party. PHOTO: EXPRESS

An educationist who has dedicated his life to teaching and social work has now set out to challenge the feudal system in Larkana, a stronghold of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the home district of its founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.Ustad Liaquat Mirani, a teacher by profession, has filed nomination papers for PS-13 Dokri as an independent candidate. Unlike political bigwigs of the area who use luxury vehicles and enjoy VIP protocol, Mirani, who represents the lower-middle class in the electoral fray, has been using traditional means of transport such as donkey or horse carts for canvassing."I am the son of a fisherman. I have no such stature like traditional politicians whom I have challenged with the support of poor people who have been deprived of [basic] facilities," he said, adding that civil society members, students, youth, peasants, writers and poets have not only been supporting him, but are also going door to door for his campaign.Mirani has vast experience in the education sector. He currently serves as the principal of Bahria Foundation College in Ranipur, Khairpur district. He has earlier worked in the same capacity at the Army Public School in Dadu. He also served as vice-principal at the Army Public School, Pano Aqil in Ghotki district. He has also been an education trainer and has worked as lecturer at many prestigious educational institutes in Sindh.Besides teaching, Mirani is also an activist, raising his voice for advancing social issues and trying to improve the quality of life for the people of Sindh. He has been at the forefront of many rallies held to create awareness about basic issues such as the provision of drinking water, health, education, and rights for peasants and labour class.It won't be an easy task for Mirani to defeat canditates belonging to two influential families of the area fielded by the PPP and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The PPP had won the last general elections from this constituency and has now awarded its ticket to Hizbullah Bughio, while the PTI has fielded Shafqat Unar as its candidate.However, Mirani is hopeful that he will defeat the electables and break the status quo that does not allow people from the middle class to get elected to assemblies. With a megaphone, he has been visiting villages and towns in his constituency, asking people to vote for him."All successive governments in the past have given nothing, but looted you. These feudal lords will not address your problems. After the elections, they will not visit you. I am your teacher so please vote for me," he said, while addressing people in Dokri, his hometown.Mirani is the first person in his family who received higher education. He started his primary education from his village and got college education from Dokri before joining Sindh University, where he secured a Masters degree in Computer Science in 1994."I am amazed at social media boom. The youth has now stood up against bad governance, corruption and nepotism," he said, adding that his constituency is deprived of all basic facilities. "I am fighting for the future and survival of our nation," he asserted, adding that around 65% voters in his constituency were 18 to 35 years old and he was targeting the youth who understood the issues and wanted to see a change.Criticising politicians who had previously won elections from the area, Mirani said, "The electables who belong to feudal families don't respect the vote and consider voters lesser mortals. I request people to vote for education, vote for health, vote for livelihood and vote for the respect of voters."Mirani is among several independent candidates who are contesting the polls from various constituencies of Sindh, challenging the politics of status quo. He said that he would also visit other likeminded independent candidates and participate in their campaigns."People in Sindh are asking for a viable alternative to the PPP and feudal lords. I have now jumped into the field and hope to get a positive response," he said, adding that he would soon visit Ayaz Latif Palijo of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Jalal Mehmood Shah of the Sindh United Party and independent groups and candidates and ask them to shun differences and join hands against those elements who have always rubbed salt in the wounds of the people of Sindh.