KARACHI - Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leadership has unanimously decided to withdraw from by-elections. According to a private TV channel, the top leadership of the MQM-P managed to sway the coordination committee to withdraw from the by-polls in a meeting on Sunday. The channel report said the meeting of the MQM-P ended here at the Bahadurabad Markaz office in Karachi in which the committee made some important decisions. The meeting was chaired by Senior Deputy Convenor Kanwar Jalil, while Convenor Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui endorsed the decision of the committee. It was stated in the committee meeting that by-elections will be a burden on the national economy. Anyhow, the MQM-P’s top leadership has advised the Rabta Committee and workers to start preparations of the general elections. Earlier on Feb 18, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had urged the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) to boycott the upcoming by-elections on National Assembly (NA) vacant seats.
Imran lauds President Alvi for not approving mini-budget ordinance
The ruling coalition contacted MQM-P after Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) set condition that it will not contest by-elections on vacant NA seats only if Awami National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) boycott the upcoming polls. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had made it clear to Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) that it will not contest by-elections on vacant NA seats only if Awami National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) boycott the upcoming polls. Media reported that PPP demanded the coalition parties should jointly announce the boycott of by-polls as it refused to leave field empty for ANP and MQM-P. PPP leadership was divided on boycotting the polls as majority of the party members were against ANP and MQM contesting elections. “The PDM would suffer a political damage if both the parties contest polls,” sources said while quoting PPP. It is pertinent to mention here that by-polls on 33 NA seats would be held on March 16. On February 10, it was reported that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) has urged the coalition parties to not contest by-elections due to fear of defeat.
Terrorists have no religious or ideological moorings: COAS