KARACHI: PML-N leader and former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif spent a busy day in Karachi on Wednesday, called on PML-Functional chief Pir Pagara and chaired a meeting of the provincial parliamentary party board to finalise candidates for the May 11 general elections.

The purpose of his visit to the metropolis was to finalise a seat-adjustment formula in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, between a 10-party alliance, which is being led by the PML-F and the provincial PML-N was also a part. However, it appeared that the younger Sharif’s meeting with Pir Pagara did not bear fruit, as no formal announcement regarding having a consensus on candidates was made. Mr Sharif returned to Lahore in the evening.

At the parliamentary party board meeting, Mr Sharif was of the view that although the PML-N had not made any seat adjustment with any political party in Punjab, this principle did not apply in Sindh because of the ground realities which called for having seat adjustment with other political entities against PPP and its allied parties candidates.

Talking to newsmen at the Raja House after meeting with Pir Pagara, Mr Sharif said that the seat adjustment issues in all divisions of Sindh —Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Larkana — had almost been settled.

Pir Pagara also said on the same occasion that except a few candidates the seat adjustment issues had been finalised between the PML-N and the PML-F-led alliance.

He, however, said that the adjustment on remaining seats would also be settled soon.

Mr Sharif hoped that the people of Sindh would guard their votes and exercise their right to get rid of corrupt, thieves and plunderers.

Responding to a question, he said that the PML-N and its allies would fully succeed in the coming elections.

He regretted over the acts of terrorism against candidates and political leadership and said that holding of free and fair elections and providing security to the candidates was the sole responsibility of the caretaker government and the election commission.

The coming elections were very important in the history of Pakistan as the future of the country was linked to these elections, he said, adding that on May 11 people were going to elect their committed leadership which would help Pakistan to become a prestigious nation.

He said that massive administrative changes had been made in Punjab and similar changes should be carried out in other three provinces to ensure free and fair elections.He said that there was a bond of love and mutual respect between Nawaz Sharif and Pir Pagara.

Criticising the performance of the then PPP-led coalition government, he said that no mega development projects were executed in Karachi where decades-old buses were being plied on roads for commuters.

He said that the metro bus ought to be introduced in Karachi. “After coming to power our government will give Karachi a gift of 70-km-long metro bus tracks.”

He said that the PML-N and the PML-F-led alliance was formed in the best interest of Pakistan.

When Pir Pagara’s attention was drawn towards bomb blasts and attacks on candidates, he said that he had already warned about bloodshed and now when only 20 to 22 days were left in the polls no traditional electioneering was being witnessed anywhere.

The PML-F chief said that the caretaker Sindh chief minister was used to be the chairman of the land commission and everyone knew about wrongdoings in the matter of government lands in Karachi and Hyderabad.