KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers on Thursday announced to stay away from the upcoming election for Sindh chief minister slot in Sindh Assembly.

Speaking outside the Sindh Assembly building, MQM lawmakers Syed Sardar Ahmed and Khwaja Izharul Hassan said MQM will neither support nor oppose a candidate for Thursday's election for the post of Sindh chief minister.

The party legislators said that the decision was taken following party's disappointment over Sindh government's reluctance to delegate powers to local bodies, lack of good governance and a poor law and order situation in the province.

MQM leader Mehfooz Yar Advocate also demanded from the government to release MQM's 133 missing persons and free party's mayor nominee Wasim Akhtar so that he can contest the upcoming mayoral elections.

"The results of electing Qaim Ali Shah unopposed for last eight years were disappointing. We will stay away from this voting drama," Izhar said, adding that he and his party has no hopes from a 'change of face' in the Assembly.

Sindh's ruling party, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had decided on Sunday to replace the octogenarian chief minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, with a relatively young man to what many believe face tough challenges ahead.

On Monday, the party formally nominated senior Sindh minister Syed Murad Ali Shah as their candidate for the slot.

The party's dominance is likely to ensure an easy win for Murad Ali Shah, however, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had nominated its MPA Khurram Sher Zaman as their candidate for the coveted position.