MQM hopeful of winning Sukkur mayor’s seat

Karachi
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is hopeful of winning half the union councils (UCs) and the mayor’s seat in Sukkur in the local government elections despite facing victimisation and arrests of dozens of its workers and supporters on the instructions of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, a senior leader of the party said on Friday.
Taking to The News, Amin-ul-Haq, incharge of the party’s information cell, said that after the MQM held a successful public meeting, which was also addressed by the party chief, Altaf Hussain, about 21 workers and many supporters were picked up by law enforcement agencies in late-night raids on their residences as well as on party offices in Sukkur. He termed the arrests the beginning of pre-poll rigging.
These forces wanted to push the MQM against the wall, but “we are adamant to win half of the UCs and would surely grab the seat of mayor”, he said.
The Pakistan People’s Party, he said, seemed very scared of the growing popularity of the Muttahida.
Key MQM leaders Shabbir Qaim Khani, Dr Farooq Sattar, Zareen Majeed and Iqbal Muqaddam held dozens of corner meetings in three days in Sukkur, besides a six-hour meeting with different communities who welcomed the party, which was a positive sign, he added.
Haq was of the view that the people of Sindh did not have any alternative to the PPP and they were therefore looking at the MQM for the resolution of their issues.
“The PPP fears losing many seats and has started threatening the MQM, which shows frustration on the part of ruling party.”
Haq accused the PPP of creating chaos and panic among the voters, claiming that his party was emerging as a potent force in the interior of Sindh.
The first phase of the LG polls will be held on Saturday (today) when eight districts -- Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jaccobabad, Kashmore and Kambar -- will elect local candidates.
A total of 203 candidates are in the run for 37 seats of district council, 809 for 148 union councils, 141 are contesting for municipal committee seats, 283 for 30 town committee seats, and 340 candidates each are vying for 166 seats of chairman and vice chairman, respectively.