MQM-P backs PTI for Senate opposition leader

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan has announced their support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate for the leader of the opposition in the Senate, saying they did not want to put their weight behind the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Briefing newsmen about the meeting with the PTI delegation that called on them seeking their support on Thursday, MQM-P Bahadurabad group leader Faisal Sabzwari said they consider Imran Khan’s party a better option than the PPP. Sabzwari criticized the PPP saying it has “destroyed” Sindh, especially its urban centers, and was now conspiring to rob them more by gerry-mandering with the constituencies there. He referred to the delimitation of constituencies in which, according to him, the PPP has manipulated to keep an edge. Commenting on the PPP's candidate for the Senate's leader of the opposition, the MQM-P Bahadurabad leader said Sherry Rehman is an able person for the post but they could not support her because of her party.

“We hope that the parties that are frustrated with the PPP's performance and its corruption will block its way from forming the government again,” he said, hinting at an alliance with PTI and other like-minded parties in the upcoming general election.

Meanwhile, reflecting on the numbers required to bring leader of the opposition in the upper house, PTI leader Imran Ismail said he is convinced that his party will win the slot with the support of other parties, including MQM-P. Ismail said the PTI will officially announce its candidate for the leader of the opposition on Friday.

The PTI delegation included Senator Azam Khan Swati, Haleem Adil Shaikh and Firdous Shamim Naqvi. The MQM-P was represented by Amir Khan, Aminul Haque, Abdul Qadir Khanzada, Arif Khan Advocate and Faisal Sabzwari. A day ago, the MQM-P PIB group leader Farooq Sattar had also announced support for PTI's Azam Swati as the opposition leader in the Senate.