KARACHI, Sept 13: Former city nazim Niamatullah Khan has said that he is the candidate of the combined opposition for the slot of Karachi nazim. Mr Khan expressed these views after filing his papers for the slot of Karachi nazim before Additional District and Sessions Judge Karachi, Syed Saeed Hasan, who is returning officer for the election of Nazim of Karachi.

Mr Khan, who appeared optimistic, arrived at the City Court premises around 3pm, with JI Karachi chief Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, MPA Nasrullah Shaji and half-a-dozen other activists.

After submitting two sets of nomination papers, Mr Khan told reporters that during his previous tenure, he did his best to improve the civic services.

He said one can visualise his achievements during the last four years from the CDGK budget which rose from Rs 7 billion to Rs 47 billion.

Besides, his performance could be judged from the 65 on-going projects in the city which would provide relief to citizens.

The projects included flyover from Korangi to Sharae Faisal, setting up of women universities, water supply projects like, K-3 and K-4, and sewerage treatment plant.

Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui told Dawn that Mr Naimatullah Khan is the joint candidate of the opposition parties. He said although there was no written agreement, it had been decided after adjustments with other component parties of the opposition.

However, he said, if any of the group had filed nomination for the Nazim’s slot, it was after taking others into confidence. As far as Al-Khidmat group is concerned, it has been settled that joint candidates would be put up to compete with Haq Parast and Khushhal Pakistan candidates on every seat of nazim and on reserved seats.