KARACHI, Sept 30: Pakistan Muslim League (N) has withdrawn its National Assembly candidate from NA-252 in favour of PPP as part of seat adjustment following which the PPP will support the PML(N) candidate for the provincial assembly seat PS-116.

The seat adjustment, the first between the two parties at Sindh level, was announced at a news conference by PML(N) general secretary, Sindh, Mamnoon Hussain, on Monday.

Mr Hussain said as a result of the “very encouraging” development, PML(N) candidate Hafiz Mohammad Shafiq has withdrawn from NA-252 in favour of PPP’s Najma Saeed Chawla. As a quid pro quo, the PPP, which had not put up any candidate in PS-116, will support Mr Shafiq.

On NA-252, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has put up Intizar Hussain and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has fielded Mohammad Hussain Mehnati. Abu Bakar Shaikhani, who in the 1997 elections had contested as Mian Nawaz Sharif’s candidate, is now the candidate of PML(Q).

Replying to questions, Mamnoon Hussain said that efforts were going on for mutual adjustments.

Haji Muzaffar Shujra, city chief of the PPP, welcomed the adjustment and hoped the two parties striving for strengthening democratic forces, would reach more adjustments.

Rashid Rabbani, general secretary of PPP Sindh, said voters of both the parties are mature enough to take advantage of the evolving situation for mutual benefit.

Mr Shujra also complained about the pre-poll rigging being done by the regime and listed the shifting of many polling booths to distant places from the areas which he claimed were PPP-strongholds. In this context, he cited the shifting of some booths from Gulshan-i-Hadeed to Port Qasim Town. He also mentioned sifting of booths from Ghagar Phatak to some other place.

REFORMS: The Central Vice-President of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Ejaz Shafi has said his party would continue its reforms agenda of the past if voted to power in the Oct 10 general elections, adds APP.