KARACHI, Jan 18: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League has withdrawn its candidate for the NA-250 seat in favour of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in the by-election being held on February 10. The seat has fallen vacant due to the death of MNA Abdul Sattar Afghani.

The PML had fielded Capt Haleem Siddiqui whereas the MQM candidate is Syed Akhlaq Husain Abdi.

Capt Siddiqui said he had withdrawn his candidature on the instruction of his party chief, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

Although the two parties in the ruling coalition were engaged in negotiations for the past few days on a consensus candidate, the decision was taken at a meeting in the Islamabad on Thursday.

With the withdrawal of PML candidate, there are three candidates — Syed Akhlaq Husain Abdi of the MQM, Nafees Siddiqui of the PPP and Saleem Zia of the PML-N — vying for the seat.