KARACHI: A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate contesting elections from a National Assembly constituency (NA-242) on Monday claimed that his party had no electoral understanding with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

Speaking at a press conference here at the Karachi Press Club, PML-N leader Khawaja Ghulam Muhammad Shoaib also accused a senior leader of the MQM-P of being “arrogant and stubborn” due to which the political partnership between the two parties had been damaged.

Khawaja Shoaib got a PML-N ticket after former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif withdrew his nomination papers from the same NA constituency.

He made it clear that he was very much in the field against MQM-P candidate Mustafa Kamal, who is also in the run on NA-242.

Khawaja Shoaib blames Mustafa Kamal for damaging alliance between both parties over one NA seat

He said that the MQM-P was doing “propaganda” that Shehbaz Sharif withdrew himself from NA-242 in favour of Mr Kamal.

Khawaja Shoaib claimed that in fact it was his party and the former premier who were “deceived” only because Mr Kamal refused to show any flexibility.

“It was decided from the very first day that Shehbaz Sharif would contest from NA-242 and the MQM-P would support him...but everything was destroyed by the arrogance of one man. Now, I am the candidate from the same [NA-242] constituency and we’re not in any kind of alliance with the MQM-P in Karachi,” he declared.

Muttahida rejects allegations

Reacting to his press conference, the MQM-P rejected the PML-N allegations and said that Mr Kamal was nominated as a party candidate from NA-242 after multiple sittings with the PML-N and it was a consensus decision.

“Now the PML-N leaders in Karachi are trying to create a false impression with their press conferences,” said MQM-P candidate from PS-112 Akram Awan.

“We are ally of the PML-N and being an ally, the PML-N should support Mustafa Kamal in NA-242,” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024