MQM, JUI-F agree to adopt strategy for electoral cooperation

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan-Fazl have agreed to adopt a strategy to ensure cooperation and agree on seat adjustments for the upcoming general elections in Sindh.

An understanding to this effect was reached as a delegation of the JUI-F held talks with the MQM-P leaders at the latter’s headquarters in Bahadurabad on Monday.

The JUI-F delegation was led by Maulana Rashid Mahmood Soomro while the MQM-P’s Senior Deputy Convener Syed Mustafa Kamal led his party in the talks.

The two parties agreed that a pro-people government should come into being in Sindh as a result of the upcoming general elections, keeping in view persistent bad governance in the PPP’s rule during the last 15 years in the province.

The committees formed by the MQM and the JUI-F on election-related affairs are likely to meet in the next 48 hours to finalise the joint strategy of the two parties for the general polls.

The spokesman for the MQM-Pakistan said the delegations of the two parties discussed the prevailing political situation and affairs related to the February 8 polls.

The MQM leaders who participated in the talks included Deputy Convener Anees Ahmed Qaimkhani, Abdul Waseem, members of the party’s Coordination Committee Syed Aminul Haq, Javed Hanif, and Hassan Sabir. The JUI-F delegation comprised Aslam Ghouri, Syed Hamdullah Shah, Maulana Abdul Karim Abid, Syed Akbar Shah Hashmi, and Maulana Sami Swati.

GDA raises concerns

Grand Democratic Alliance Secretary General Dr Safdar Abbasi and Information Secretary Sardar Abdul Rahim on Sunday called on Provincial Election Commissioner Sindh Sharifullah Marwat to discuss the GDA's concerns and reservations regarding the 2024 elections.

The GDA leaders alleged that current returning officers and district returning officers had their loyalties with the party that had formed the previous government, and the interim government was also following in the footsteps of the previous elected government.

Abbasi and Rahim told the provincial election commissioner that ROs and DROs had been posted on the recommendations of the previous government. They said the ROs and DROs should be impartial to ensure transparent elections. The provincial election commissioner assured the GDA leaders that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would hold transparent elections. "Every possible effort will be made to conduct fair and transparent elections in the province and address the concerns raised by the GDA," he said.