MQM refutes NA-242 seat adjustment with PML-N

Karachi: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui refused speculations of seat adjustment with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday in Karachi's NA-242 constituency.

Siddiqui asserted, "There is no truth to the reports stating the seat adjustment in NA-242 Karachi," emphasizing that MQM-P's Senior Deputy Convener Mustafa Kamal is the designated candidate for the constituency.

Yesterday's reports suggested that MQM-P was engaging in seat adjustment with PML-N across three National Assembly constituencies, notably NA-242, where PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is also in the electoral race. In addition to Shehbaz, PML-N plans to field candidates on five National Assembly seats—NA-229, 230, and 239— and contest 11 provincial assembly seats within these constituencies.

Whereas, the Mutahidda leaders would contest elections for the seats of national and provincial assembly from Malir’s NA-231 constituency.

Earlier on December 29, the former Prime Minister declared his candidacy for the upcoming general elections in Karachi's NA-242 constituency, where Mustafa Kamal had also submitted his nomination papers. In the 2018 general elections, Shehbaz contested from NA-249 in Karachi, losing narrowly to the then Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda.