In a surprising move, the AML candidate for the upcoming by-election in NA-246 constituency of Karachi not only withdrew in favour of MQM candidate Kunwar Naveed Jamil but also announced to join MQM.
Announcing his decision in public during MQM music festival in Jinnah Ground, Mahfooz said that he held the flag of Haq Parasti (Righteousness) for last 25 years but became a Haq Parast (a term MQM uses for its members) today.
Mahfooz opined that he has tried all parties of Pakistan and only MQM is a true political party adding that he is giving 50 years of his experience to MQM.
Criticising MQM opponents, he claimed that the Mohajirs (immigrants) do not like Imran Khan and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is a party of Taliban rebels.
Altaf Hussain congratulates Mahfooz
On this occasion, MQM chief congratulated Mahfooz and remarked that Mahfooz Yar Khan stood for truth at all times in his long political struggle.
Hussain added that whether it was Ayub Khan’s regime, killing of Mohajirs during Mumtaz Bhutto’s time or the MRD movement, Mahfooz always proved himself a practical fighter.
The NA-246 constituency of Karachi will witness a by-poll on April 23 as the seat fell vacant after Nabeel Gabol, who was elected on the ticket of MQM in the 2013 general elections, resigned from his seat after developing differences with the party.
A number of candidates are participating in the election with the most notable being MQM’s Kunwar Naveed Jamil, PTI’s Imran Ismail and JI’s Rashid Nasim. The by-polls are due to be held on April 23, 2015
