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KARACHI: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have withdrawn their candidates for the NA-245 by-elections in favor of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in line with a decision taken by the federal ruling coalition.
The development comes after MQM-P leader Khawaja Izahrul Hassan met with JUI-F candidate Ameenullah at his residence in Karachi. Khawaja Izhar also thanked the JUI-F leadership for withdrawing its candidature in favour of MQM-P candidate Mueed Anwar
Earlier, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) withdrew his candidature for the by-polls in NA-245 Karachi.
The PPP’s decision has left the MQM’s candidate as the main contestant against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which had won the National Assembly seat in 2018 general elections.
Sindh Minister of Labour and Manpower Saeed Ghani clarified that this decision was specific to the NA-245 by-election being held on August 21 and that it would not be applicable to the second phase of local bodies elections in Sindh scheduled for August 28. All the parties would be fielding their candidates in the LB polls as usual, he added.
The national assembly seat was vacated after the death of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Aamir Liaquat Hussain. Syed Nadeem Haider was appointed as the returning officer for the by-election.
The by-polls were initially scheduled to take place on July 25 before the ECP postponed them due to rains. The by-poll will now be held on August 27, 2022.