KARACHI: With electioneering for the NA-246 by-poll set to come to a close on Tuesday night, the contesting parties on Monday sped up efforts to win support from different groups, with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) managing to get backing of 10 Shia organisations and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf winning the support of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP).

Leaders of different organisations told a press conference at the MQM headquarters Nine Zero that they had supported the MQM in the past and no one should be surprised for their fresh support for the party in the by-poll.

“It’s because of the MQM ideology and teaching of Altaf Hussain that Karachi has played a front-line role against extremism,” said Allama Zuhair Abidi of the Pakistan Shia Council.

“The MQM has aggressively worked against sectarianism and raised its voice with practical steps against extremism. This great contribution must win support from every segment of society.”

A statement issued by the MQM named the parties and organisations that announced their support. They are Jafria Alliance, Tanzeem-i-Azadari Pakistan, Pakistan Shia Council, Tanzeem-i-Aza Pakistan, Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Fiqa-i-Jafria, Shia Federation, Anjuman-i-Zakiran-i-Imamia, Anjuman-i-Zakiran-i-Muhammad-o-Aal-e-Muhammad, Idara Deen-o-Danish Aal-e-Muhammad and Idara-i-Tableeghat-i-Islami.

Announcing his party support for the PTI candidate, JUP chief Owais Noorani said his workers would be out in the field on April 23 not only to vote for Imran Ismail but also to bring to an end the environment of fear in the constituency.

“We are against ethnicity and terrorism,” he said while addressing a press conference along with the PTI candidate Mr Ismail. “We preferred to stay away from the by-poll process only to protect our workers as we knew that in election a particular party is set free to violate every single law and target opponents. But we are determined to make our contribution and that’s why we have decided to support the PTI in this by-poll.”

Referring to struggle of his late father and founding chief of the party, Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani, he said the JUP more than 25 years ago had expressed its concern about the ethnic divide in Karachi that was exploited through bloodshed by a certain political party for its gains.

AWM candidate joins MQM

Earlier, Awami Muslim League candidate Mahfooz Yar Khan withdrew himself in favour of MQM candidate Kanwar Naveed Jameel in the by-election and announced joining the MQM.

“I have already tested various political parties but only the MQM stood with truthfulness. I would work under the leadership of Altaf Hussain and utilise my political experience to struggle for the deprived people,” he said at a music concert organised by the MQM at Jinnah Ground in the early hours of the day.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play