KARACHI, July 6: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan’s Karachi chapter has announced that it would contest the coming local bodies polls in cooperation with other opposition parties and field joint candidates against those of the coalition parties. The announcement was made by the JUP city chief Maulana Abdul Haleem Qadri and its General Secretary Shabbir Abu Talib at a press conference here on Wednesday.

They said that a joint strategy was being formulated for seat adjustments.

Recounting the services rendered by the JUP to the city under the leadership of Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani, they said that the party had resolved not to hand over the city to terrorists. “We have worked out a plan to streamline the party organization at every level and open offices in every nook and corner of the city,” they added.

The JUP leaders were of the view that to ensure the election process transparent, it was necessary that governor and home minister were immediately changed, interference by provincial ministers and legislators in the election process was stopped, provincial election commissioner was given full powers, the Rangers and army were deployed at all polling stations to deny entry to any unconcerned person including ministers and legislators, and display of arms at polling station was strictly checked.