KARACHI, Aug 18: The Deputy Convenor of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Dr Farooq Sattar, on Thursday claimed that the overwhelming success of Haq Parast candidates in the first phase of local body election was now a reality. He congratulated the people of Sindh for defying those who had resorted to wild allegations against the MQM.

He said this while addressing a news conference at Nine Zero. He claimed that the verdict in favour of the MQM-supported candidates amounted to rejection of extremists and terrorist groups.

He alleged that since early morning, Jamaat-i-Islami’s “terrorists” had tried to create law and order situation in many parts of Karachi and claimed that the arrest of Al Khidmat’s Faizullah, contesting naib-nazim of one of the UCs of Saddar Town, with arms was ample proof of JI’s intentions.

Dr Sattar referred to the mass contact campaign of the MQM, and said that with a pragmatic approach, it had proved that JI’s claims that Karachi would be plunged into another blood bath was wrong and part of a malicious conspiracy.

He accused the JI and its allies of trying to mislead Rangers in many localities. This, he said, was aimed at reducing the MQM’s margin of victory. He said that after failing in its conspiracy, the JI allies had boycotted elections in many UCs in the afternoon.

He alleged that in the various UCs of Malir Town, PPP-supported candidates beat up Haq Parast candidates to prevent its supporters from voting.

In Baldia Town, he alleged that JI did not allow minority candidates to vote at the TCS School, Khyber Chowk.

Similar complaints were received from Orangi Town, Mominabad where supporters of Maulana Fazalur Rehman beat up Firdos Baji and Parveen Baji at n a polling station located in Top Lane School in UC 1, Mr Sattar alleged.