HYDERABAD, Sept 17: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Tuesday night held its first public meeting at the GTC ground to kick off its election campaign.

Thousands of people from lower Sindh also came to attend the public meeting which was to be addressed by the MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

MQM candidates from all over Sindh, including Sindhi- speaking candidates had also come to attend the meeting.

Preparations for the meeting had been going on for at least a week under the personal supervision of the deputy convener coordination committee, Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, who is also a party candidate from NA-220 Hyderabad-III.

A 30-foot long, 60-foot wide, and 14-foot high stage had been constructed to accommodate the party candidates and the party high command.

Kanwar Khalid Younus, Kanwar Naveed, and other MQM leaders had also come from Karachi.

Eleven committees were constituted to look after the arrangements.

A number of food stalls were also set up outside the venue.

A special telephone line had been installed with a fax machine to facilitate the newsmen.

The entire GTC ground wore a festive look. It was adorned with party flags. Patriotic songs were played on cassette players throughout the day. Arrangements were made for the TV teams of various channels.

An observer from Malaysia, Eric Paulsen, who is here to observe the election process, was also present on the occasion.

The chairman, Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz, Bashir Khan Qureshi, who is an ally of the MQM, was given a standing ovation when he entered the GTC ground.