Confident of winning, MQM-P finalises names for deputy mayoral election

After the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified Arshad Vohra from the position of deputy mayor for switching parties after being elected, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan is confident of retaining the seat easily and has finalised two names for the position.

For the slot, the party has chosen Arshad Hasan and Mansoor Khan, who are UC chairmen from Central and Korangi districts respectively. The party’s interview panel comprising three leaders has shortlisted the candidate for deputy mayor, but the Rabita Committee will officially make an announcement in upcoming days, party sources said.

Aslam Afridi, the MQM-P’s parliamentary leader in the city council, was also one among the aspirants for the slot. Last month, the ECP has announced that the election to the vacant post of deputy mayor will be held on April 18. Vohra, who won an election to UC-49 Nazimabad No 1 on the MQM-P ticket, got elected deputy mayor, but later joined the Pak Sarzameen Party in October 2017. It annoyed his former party, which asked the ECP to disqualify him from the position for changing the party’s loyalty.

The MQM-P’s numerical strength in the KMC Council was 214 members out of the total 308 elected members in August 2016 during the election for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. However, a number of MQM-P members in the KMC, including Vohra, changed their loyalties and joined the party after the formation of the PSP.

However, MQM-P leaders are confident of retaining the seat of deputy mayor because the party has a majority in the city council. “We are positive that our nominated candidate for the slot will win easily,” said a MQM-P leader.