The Altaf Hussain-led Muttahida Qaumi Movement, commonly called MQM-London, has announced the names of its ‘Wafa Parast’ independent candidates on 80 national and provincial assembly seats in Sindh, including two in Punjab.

The decision, which was announced in a video briefing by London-based convener Mustafa Azizabadi on Sunday night, may have a somewhat negative impact on the prospects of the MQM-Pakistan, which seemed to be banking on the possibility of a boycott by the MQM-L.

The MQM-L had boycotted the 2018 general elections. Sources said that the names were announced at the eleventh hour as part of a strategy of the MQM-L that has been facing an undeclared ban since Aug 22, 2016 incendiary speech of its founder.

The MQM-L has fielded candidates on 19 NA seats, out of a total of 22, in Karachi, two NA seats in Hyderabad and one each in Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Sanghar, Multan and Muzzafargarh.

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