Fear of defeat behind JI, PTI call for delay in LB polls: MQM

E-Paper | October 02, 2026

Fear of defeat behind JI, PTI call for delay in LB polls: MQM

Dawn.com Published November 22, 2015

comments

Join our Whatsapp Channel

Add Dawn as a trusted source

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar on Sunday said Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) wish to delay the local body elections out of fear of an imminent defeat.

In a press conference at party headquarters, the MQM leader termed the rival political parties 'political wings' of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He alleged that the recent killings of law enforcement agency personnel are linked to the PTI and JI's call for a delay in local body polls.

"We too were shaken by the killing of Rangers personnel in Ittehad Town and telephoned the Director General Rangers to offer our condolences," said the MQM leader.

His statement was a response to local media reports that the PTI and JI want to delay the polls scheduled for December 5, after the killings of Rangers personnel in Ittehad Town.

Political parties are fervently campaigning in a bid to gain seats in the ongoing local body polls. The schedule for the first phase of local body polls in Sindh and Punjab was issued on August 26 and the polling was conducted on October 31.

Polls were held in Sukkur, Ghotki and Khairpur districts in Sukkur division and Larkana, Qamber Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Kashmore in Larkana division of Sindh province.

In the second phase held on November 19, the polls in Punjab were held in Khanewal in Multan division; Sahiwal in Sahiwal division; Faisalabad and Chiniot in Faisalabad division; Khushab and Mianwali in Sargodha division; Sheikhupura in Lahore division; Gujranwala, Hafizabad and M.B. Din in Gujranwala division and Chakwal and Jhelum in Rawalpindi division.

In Sindh, polling was held in Shaheed Benazirabad and Naushero Feroze in Shaheed Benazirabad division; Dadu, Matiari, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Thatta, Sujawal and Badin in Hyderabad division; and Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas in Mirpurkhas division.

In the third phase, the districts in Punjab selected for the elections are: Pakpattan in Sahiwal division; Layyah, Rajanpur, D.G. Khan and Muzzafargarh in D.G. Khan division; Jhang in Faisalabad division; Bhakkar in Sargodha division; Lahore in Lahore division; Sialkot and Narowal in Gujranwala division; Rahimyar Khan in Bahawalpur division; and Multan in Multan division.

For Sindh the districts in the third phase are: Karachi West, Karachi East, Karachi South, Karachi Central, Korangi and Malir in Karachi division; and Hyderabad division.

The polling date for the third phase as announced by ECP, is December 5.

Pakistan

Killing of four Rangers personnel heightens fears

MQM irked as Rangers detain suspects of ‘political party’ ahead of LG polls

Rashid

Nov 22, 2015 07:35pm

It is no secret that PTI and JI like to steal the MQM mandate, but people of Karachi know their real faces and will cast their vote for candidates who really care about Karachi.

Recommend 0

Najam

Nov 22, 2015 07:37pm

Well said.

Recommend 0

Haseena302

Nov 22, 2015 07:45pm

He is right. Right before 2013 general elections there were so many killings.. Senior politician Bashir Bilour, ANP/MQM ticket holders were targeted and killed yet these parties did not demand postponement of the elections. Its the fear of defeat that forced PTI to make this demand but its now, next month or next year MQM is going to sweep Karachi

Recommend 0

karachi wala

Nov 22, 2015 07:45pm

Mr. Sattar is right

Recommend 0

M Jamal

Nov 22, 2015 07:46pm

PTI and JI know their fate in Karachi and to avoid election they are looking for postponement.They always need crutches to win elections

Recommend 0

asif iqbal

Nov 22, 2015 08:05pm

in Pakistan, people don't caste their vote, they vote their caste.

Recommend 0

PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Nov 22, 2015 08:10pm

May be. who knows?

Recommend 0

waleed KARACHI

Nov 22, 2015 08:11pm

Agree..jamat and PTi have no stake here,they will meet the fate like in NA122 AND NA246

Recommend 0

Jalbani Baloch

Nov 22, 2015 08:29pm

No reason to delay polling scheduled on 5 December 2015. The elections must be held on time, otherwise, the concern of the MQM leader will get momentum that both PTI and JI want to delay elections out of their fear of defeat. The killing o LEAs cannot be considered as an excuse to postpone the elections, rather it will make the election process as doubtful.

Recommend 0

Big Brother

Nov 22, 2015 08:31pm

Don't delay LB election any more, period.

Recommend 0

Abdulla Hussain

Nov 22, 2015 08:40pm

Not supporting any one I should admit MQM will come out with flying colours. MQM support will not die down so soon. PTI has to play a confidence building role to win.

Recommend 0

Syed haider

Nov 22, 2015 08:42pm

Long live MQM

Recommend 0

m m amin

Nov 22, 2015 08:48pm

Dr Farooq you are entitled to your view as much as your target parties are to theirs . The politics of accusations is regrettable. MQM may now understand the terror tactics are unacceptable and will not go unpunished .

Recommend 0

Shah Ji

Nov 22, 2015 09:16pm

MQM has the great track record of Karachi local Government. Kamal Mustafa and before that Farooq Sattar managements were arguably "The Best Governments " at any level in the history of Pakistan.

Recommend 0

neutral

Nov 22, 2015 09:28pm

"Political Wings" are acceptable and better than Target killers, Bhatta Khors and Land grabbers.

Recommend 0

Nov 22, 2015 09:44pm

It is sad that rangers were killed. However election should be conducted.

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Nov 22, 2015 09:48pm

The type of hooliganism and relentless meddling by national/provincial leaders' in the affairs of Local bodies' polls, is enough of the proof that,we are not yet ripe as a nation for such adventures in governance.

Recommend 0

Alien

Nov 22, 2015 09:51pm

Farooq Sattar soon MQM will be PAST......................

Recommend 0

Zia ur Rehman

Nov 22, 2015 10:00pm

@Rashid No one can steal the mandate of any political party, if there is free and fair elections. Unfortunately parties ruling the country for last half of the century are not used to it and election commission members are puppets of different political parties. All forces who stand for freedom and justice should emphasize the importance of free and fair elections. Let's hope and strive for it

Recommend 0

Syed Talha Hussain

Nov 22, 2015 10:26pm

Vote for better candidates whether he belongs to MQM or PTI. I'm a MQM supporter but i will vote for PTI candidate because he is better than MQM's candidate.

Recommend 0

Ahsan

Nov 22, 2015 10:30pm

Time for rangers to speed up their operations in Karachi. Thank you rangers for clearing Karachi from politically connected criminals. Long live Pakistan

Recommend 0

Talha

Nov 22, 2015 10:49pm

PTI is going to win LG elections in most areas of Karachi. MQM would win in some areas. PTI's presence in Karachi would now be felt due to fair elections because MQM doesn't have the same control over the city.

Recommend 0

Oscar

Nov 22, 2015 10:51pm

MQM has been ruling Karachi for many years. Look what Karachi has become: Target killing, extortion etc.

Recommend 0

Nov 22, 2015 10:55pm

PTI is in KPK. They may be slow but at least I don't see any target killings or extortion. The KPK police has been praised by many. I see a prosperous Karachi under Pti.

Recommend 0

Sarmad

Nov 22, 2015 11:13pm

Farooq Sattar is a very strong,vocal and loyal worker of MQM and Altaf Hussain. He is absolutely right that JI and PTI want to spoil the elections. Since both the parties do not have any stake in Karachi they want to detract people from elections in order to face saving. They are like 'Na Khelein gey aur Na Khelne dein gey'. But if the government is sincere and the forces really care about people of Karachi they must go ahead with the elections and let the real representatives come out regardless who is elected by the people.

Recommend 0

Arslan

Nov 22, 2015 11:13pm

MQM is political wing of who then? It's human nature to blame others of the same thing one is trying to hide about themselves.

Recommend 0

I am Karachi

Nov 22, 2015 11:31pm

@Alien in your dreams my friends...

Recommend 0

Muhammad Akhtar

Nov 22, 2015 11:47pm

Who cares about these elections for Khaakrobe Aala of Karachi and Hyderabad? We all know that Nawaz, Zardari, Altaf & Co. had shifted all of the powers of local governments back to the Punjab and Sindh provincial governments.

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Nov 23, 2015 12:04am

Mustafa Kamal should return and contest as independent candidate. He would win hands down and give the life's hardest lesson to MQM.

Recommend 0

murielbolongo

Nov 23, 2015 12:06am

@Big Brother nt fool

Recommend 0

Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Nov 23, 2015 12:26am

MQM defeated the 10 parties alliance including PTI, JI, PML-N etc and clean swept Hyderababad's local body elections. This is exactly what is going to happen in Karachi and PTI and JI are well and truly aware of it. I kept on saying, MQM lives in the heart of people. It is not just a political party, it is a passion. People of urban sindh will vote for their true representatives and MQM was, is and always be urban sindh's first choice.

Recommend 0

Aadil

Nov 23, 2015 12:39am

Go for the best candidate & dont vote in the name of party. You know & are the best judge to choose among the contesting individuals.

Recommend 0

Radiohead

Nov 23, 2015 12:45am

@Syed Talha Hussain Confuse?

Recommend 0

Nasir

Nov 23, 2015 12:49am

Dr. Sattar has a valid point. PTI & JI need to earn respect from the public of Karachi at the grass root level, these type of techniques haven’t worked in the past and will not be effective in the future.

Recommend 0

Tsriq

Nov 23, 2015 01:56am

Last nail in MqM's coffin I sincerely hope so! To bring peace in Karachi

Recommend 0

Arabian Sea

Nov 23, 2015 02:40am

If a political party was sincere to Karachi, they would have not wished rhe LB elections to be delayed by even a day, given the dire straits in which the cities are existing in the wbsence of LBs.mhence, by their call for delaying the LB polls JI and PTI prove their 'outsider, non- stakeholder' credentials.

Recommend 0

Khan- Pakistani

Nov 23, 2015 03:33am

@asif iqbal Its not "caste vote" , its "cast vote " . Please correct your English !

Recommend 0

Khan- Pakistani

Nov 23, 2015 03:43am

@Syed Talha Hussain You are a totally misleading people. A MQM voter will never vote for PTI . You are trying disgrace all of us. Please admit you are a PTI supporter and have the courage to say that.

Recommend 0

Nov 23, 2015 04:21am

PTI needs same face saving after defeats in punjab and bani galla...

Recommend 0

fida

Nov 23, 2015 05:31am

Any party which calls for the postponement of a election and denies the voter the right to vote is not a democratic party.

Recommend 0

Pakistani democrat

Nov 23, 2015 06:15am

@Alien sentiments like these help MQM in garnering more support. I don't know what kind of patriotism people like you want to exhibit by bashing the mandate of the Karachiites. You are indeed an 'alien' to the ground realities of Karachi.

Recommend 0

Saima Khan

Nov 23, 2015 06:44am

Long Live MQM Long Live Pakistan

Recommend 0

Rabbani maria

Nov 23, 2015 06:52am

Agreed but what about MQM? They are terrorists In their own right!

Recommend 0

Ash

Nov 23, 2015 08:20am

I hope Karachi collective wisdom won't vote the killers, extortionists & land grabbers who have destroyed Karachi peace & infrastructure. I don't find much difference between Karachi & Monjodaro much which shows the performance of so called owners of Karachi.

Recommend 0

salim

Nov 23, 2015 10:59am

MQM may or may not win but their preparation is poor even in Karahi central.Tents are empty with kids playing inside. Main workers of the area are no where on the seen.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Putting better health in more hands: Reckitt Pakistan unveils Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation

Powered by Dettol and Harpic, the flagship platform begins in schools to provide safe drinking water, rehabilitated toilets, handwashing facilities and hygiene education.

28 years of McDonald’s Pakistan: celebrating the local partners behind the Golden Arches

The milestone highlighted the structural evolution of the company's local procurement model.

Etihad Town Sialkot delivers Possession ahead of time

The project was delivered within just 1.5 years against a 3-year payment plan, while commercial possession had already been handed over to customers in January 2026.