Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui stated on Sunday that his party has not formed an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N).
He expressed concern that voters might be disappointed if candidates withdraw from the race in favor of others.
During an interview on Sunday, Siddiqui emphasized the importance of holding elections in Karachi, stating that the city’s representation is currently under an ‘artificial’ leadership that does not reflect the city’s mandate in legislatures.
Siddiqui called for unbiased and transparent elections, expressing concern over a potential pre-poll rigging program, particularly in Sindh.
Without naming the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), he mentioned a party expressing satisfaction with conditions in Sindh, suggesting a planned rigging strategy.
The MQM leader affirmed that his party would actively participate in the elections to raise concerns about inevitable rigging.
He criticized the delimitations in Karachi’s local bodies election, stating that entire Union Councils (UCs) were stolen, and additional UCs were added after the elections.
Siddiqui acknowledged the importance of moral victories in elections and noted that MQM believed in its people-centric approach. He stressed that even if the party faced challenges in elections, it would continue to have a presence in Karachi.
Regarding a potential collaboration with PML-N, Siddiqui mentioned discussions about empowering the next government to improve the lives of ordinary citizens but clarified that no alliance has been formalized.
He expressed the need for cooperation between the parties but highlighted ongoing negotiations on the details.
Siddiqui pointed out that seat adjustments could lead to voter disappointment, emphasizing that MQM did not want to compromise its principles for electoral gains.
He mentioned three constitutional amendments as conditions for any potential collaboration and identified MQM’s main opponents as its perception and the policies that managed the 2018 elections.
