KARACHI, June 9: In deference to the decision taken by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, People’s Party Parliamentarians withdrew its candidate from NA-255 and declared support for the Mohajir Qaumi Movement candidate.
The decision was announced by Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, provincial chief of the PPP and Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly at a news conference here on Monday.
He said that the PPP candidate, Mufti Firozuddin Hazarvi, was being withdrawn in favour of Mr Abid Jaferi who was present at the news conference at the local press club.
Mr Khuhro also deplored the alleged excesses against the MQM (Haqiqi) supporters and arrest of its activists. He condemned the government’s ‘partisan’ approach saying that its functionaries were not allowing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s rivals to run their campaign.
Mr Khuhro also termed the demolition of Baitul Hamza ‘uncalled for and insane’ and regretted that on the pretext of eliminating the so-called ‘no-go areas’, a specific party had turned it into no-go area for its opponents.
Syed Abid Jaferi appreciated the gesture of PPP and ARD to support him and accused the provincial administration of not allowing him to open his election office in the constituency at the behest of Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
He alleged that a large number of Haqiqi activists and supporters had been arrested and were being coerced to support the ruling party’s candidate. He claimed that wherever he attempted to open his office, it was raided by the police and other agencies.
He alleged that on the pretext of eliminating no-go area, the present government had turned the entire city into a no-go area for the leaders and workers of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement.
He alleged that with the announcement of election schedule, police and rangers had started occupying his party’s offices illegally which were handed over to the rival Muttahida later.
He also appealed to the MMA leadership to follow the ARD’s principled stand and extend support to his candidature in the election.
The PPP nominee, Mufti Firozuddin, while formally announcing his retirement form the contest, said he would visit the area also and campaign for the Haqiqi candidate.
