LAHORE, Feb 24: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Raza Haroon on Sunday called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to stop all those holding fake educational degrees from contesting the elections.

Talking to reporters after an MQM delegation held talks with Dr Tahirul Qadri and leaders of his Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT), Mr Haroon expressed surprise that the politicians who had earlier raised the issue of fake degrees had now changed their stance.

The other members of the MQM delegation were Nasreen Jalil, Saif Yar Khan and Adil Sheikh. Dr Raheeq Abbasi and Qazi Faiz represented the PAT at the talks.

Mr Haroon said the MQM and PAT had the same stance on the issue of fake degrees.

He said the MQM was in contact with several parties for possible electoral alliance and that Altaf Hussain had assured the PAT’s leadership of full support. Since the manifestos of the two parties were similar, they would cooperate with each other in the elections in the shape of seat adjustments or alliance, he added.

He said a PAT delegation under the leadership of Dr Raheeq Abbasi would visit the MQM’s headquarters, Nine Zero in Karachi, on the invitation of Mr Hussain during the first week of March.

He condemned a recent statement of Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq and termed it an attempt to divide Sindh.

He said the matter relating to the return of Governor Ishratul Ibad from abroad would be decided within a coupe of days.

Speaking later at a workers’ convention at the MQM’s Punjab secretariat, Mr Haroon accused the Punjab government of “exporting terrorists to the other provinces”.

He said the MQM would field candidates from all over the country without taking any fee from them.