ISLAMABAD, Sep 17: Ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Saturday announced that former naib nazim Karachi Tariq Hassan would be the PML-backed candidate for the office of Karachi nazim. “The party has nominated him due to his good performance and he will be supported completely by the PML coalition partners. Discussion is also going on with MQM in this regard,” Chaudhry Shujaat said while talking to journalists at his residence.

He said the PML’s provincial president and other office-bearers of the party in Karachi were ‘strictly directed’ to extend full support to Mr Hassan.

“He will be the party candidate in the election,” he said, adding “violation in this regard will not be tolerated.”

The PML chief hoped that Mr Hassan would make contribution to the development of Karachi with a new spirit after his election to the top office of the district.

“He has played a very proactive role in strengthening democratic values which is also being appreciated in the non-political circles,” said Chaudhry Shujaat.

Other candidates vying for the post are Syed Mustafa Kamal of the Haq Parast panel backed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, former nazim Niamatullah Khan of the Shehri panel backed by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Fauzia Wahab of the Awam Dost panel backed by the Pakistan People’s Party and independents Dr Mohammad Hanif Khan, Rizwan Ikram and Syed Zahid Ali. Babar Ghauri, M.A. Jalil and Waseem Akhtar are covering candidates of Mr Kamal as is Mian Muslim Pervez for Mr Niamatullah Khan.

—Online