PS-114 by-election: Afaq announces support for MQM-P

KARACHI: Mohajir Quami Movement chief Afaq Ahmed on Friday announced to support the Muttahida Quami Movement – Pakistan in the upcoming PS-114 by-elections in Karachi, ARY News reported.

Afaq Ahmed addressing media expressed his support for MQM-P candidate Kamran Tissori. He said that the people should not waste their vote and instead vote for Tissori. “If my vote was in the constituency then I would vote for Kamran Tissori.”

The MQM-Haqqiqi chief also condemned a statement by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and said that the Muhajir community was not divided and still stood united. He also announced to hold a rally in July.

Afaq had previously called for political reconciliation with the MQM-P, a move which was welcomed by Farooq Sattar. Afaq had said that issues between both parties should be resolved through negotiations which would be a great way forward for Muhajir community.

The by-election for the PS-114 are being held on Sunday June 9 where the main contest is between MQM-P’s Kamran Tissori, Pakistan People Party’s Saeed Ghani, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Najeeb Haroon, and Jamaat Islami’s Zahoor Ahmed Jadoon.

The constituency was won by Irfanullah Marwat on a Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) ticket in 2013 general elections which was declared void by the election tribunal in July 2014. Marwat chose not to contest in the by-election.

The election campaign in the constituency is in full swing which will end at midnight. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto addressed a gathering to support candidate Saeed Ghani.

PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, PML-N’s Mushaidullah, MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar, JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq campaigned in the constituency and addressed their voters. There are over 133,000 registered voters in the constituency.