MQM and other parties enter local poll fray with full force

Islamabad - Senior leaders file nomination papers for December 3 elections.

By Afzal Khan

Published: Fri 9 Oct 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Fri 9 Oct 2015, 2:00 AM

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has made a forceful entry in the local government elections with senior party leaders filing nomination papers along with other activists in Karachi.
Leaders of other political parties including the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI), the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and various religious groups have also joined the fray.
MQM's senior leader Farooq Sattar has filed his papers along with another leader Waseem Akhtar, for chairman Karachi district council.
Several prominent leaders of various political parties on Wednesday filed their nomination papers for the upcoming local government elections in the city, parties and officials said.
The MQM, which traditionally dominates the political scene of the city, has fielded several heavyweights sending a clear message that despite having serious objections over the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi it will not boycott the December 3 local government polls as it did in 2001.
Other prominent figures from the MQM included former and current lawmakers, Aminul Haq (UC-26, Al Noor, Central), Waseem Akhtar (Lines Area, East), Rehan Hashmi (UC-2, North Nazimabad, Central), Zareen Majeed (PIB Colony), Muhammad Hussain (Orangi Town), Salman Mujahid Baloch (Baldia Town).
Interestingly, the only well-known political figure of the PPP, which rules Sindh province, has fielded is its Karachi president Najme Alam.
Similarly, city chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, according to a party spokesman, is prominent among its candidates for the city.
PTI leader Syed Hafeezuddin told reporters that the party has fielded Imran Ismail, who shot to fame when he contested - and lost - the NA-246 by-election against the MQM. Others included PTI's city chief Ali Zaidi and Firdous Shamim.
Similarly, the PML-N leaders said they would share the names of its candidates with the media in a day or so. Over 7,000 filed nominations in six Karachi districts
news@khaleejtimes.com