MQM withdraws from Senate by-elections in favour of PPP

KARACHI: Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has announced to withdraw its candidate from the Senate by-elections in support of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The PPP  sought cooperation from the  MQM in the Senate by-election. A PPP delegation headed by provincial minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and comprising Waqar Mehdi and Sajid Jokhio went to the MQM head office in Bahadurabad to discuss the matter.

MQM leader Waseem Akhtar welcome the delegation.  The MQM announced to withdraw its party candidate for the Senate seat in favor of Waqar Mehdi.

Minister Nasir Shah thanked the MQM leaders. He said PPP and MQM are expected to hold a round of talks tomorrow He said the entire province will benefit from the improved working relationship between both parties

Speaking to the media, the PPP leader said positive progress was made in talks with MQM. He said they will welcome every viable proposal for the betterment of the entire province including Karachi.

Meanwhile, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has also directed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to address the MQM’s reservations.

An MQM delegation headed by convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui will meet with PPP leaders at the CM House to discuss issues pertaining to constituencies ahead of the local government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.

The meeting come after the MQM clarified that it will contest the LG elections under the current constituencies. MQM convener Khalid Maqbool also meet Zardari in Islamabad the discussed matters pertaining to the municipal polls.

The cooperation of the MQM – an ally of the coalition government in the Centre – is also crucial at a time when PTI Chairman Imran Khan has announced dissolution of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is demanding fresh elections.

The polling for the Senate seat will take place on December 8 in the Sindh Assembly. The seat became vacant after PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar resigned after developing differences with the party leadership.

The PPP and MQM have both filed the nomination papers of their respective members for Senate by-election.

The PPP has filed nomination papers of PPP Sindh General Secretary and Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Political Affairs, Waqar Mehdi, for the seat.

The MQM has submitted the nomination forms of Ahmed Salim Siddiqui, Sabeen Ghori and Tariq Mansoor. The final name will be announced after consultation.

According to the election schedule, candidates can withdraw their nomination papers till December 3 (tomorrow) before the polls are held.