HYDERABAD, Dec 26: PML candidate Abdul Rehman Rajput retired from the contest for PS-45 in favour of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Mohammad Akram Adil Qureshi as efforts by former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim to secure this seat for party candidates bore no fruit.
He confirmed that he has retired from contest. MQM and PML had announced a friendly seat adjustment in Karachi on Tuesday.
Abdul Rehman Rajput switched over his loyalty to Arbab Ghulam Rahim-led Sindh chapter of PML. MQM has fielded Mohammad Akram Adil Qureshi while MMA’s Karam Ali Rajput is also in the field for PS-45 (Hyderabad-I).
Earlier, Rajput had won this seat in 2002 general elections, beating MQM’s Farooque Qureshi with a narrow margin. MMA’s Sahibzada Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair had also won NA-220 (Hyderabad-II). Now the field is open for a one-on-one contest between Akram Adil Qureshi and Karamat Rajput, who belongs to JUP.
CORNER MEETING: MQM zonal in-charge Hyderabad Mohammad Sharif has said that electioneering by MQM candidates indicated as if no one is contesting in the city. He added that people of Paretabad would endorse their loyalty with the MQM. He was addressing a corner meeting of MQM candidates of NA-220 in Paretabad along with party candidate for the seat, Salahuddin. He said that that MQM’s campaign has gained momentum in the city whereas no other party seemed to be contesting polls in Hyderabad.
NA-220 candidate Salahuddin said that MQM was the only party which was working for people’s welfare and it could guarantee stable future for the country.
According to party press release, Sunni Tehrik’s unit in charge Mohammad Asif, Inayat Hussain, Imran Ahmed, Mohammad Akram and others, PPP’s Mohammad Aijaz Seharo, Irfan Seharo, Islam Rajput and others and MMA’s Qasim Azad have joined MQM.
