KARACHI – The politico-religious party Jamaat-e-Islami has expanded its election-related activities in the metropolis, and decided to fight against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement with full strength in the upcoming general elections, TheNation has learned.
To defeat the MQM in the forthcoming elections, the Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi is also seeking consensus with other political and religious parties, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Jamiat Ullema-e-Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan Muslim League (Functional).
The JI had boycotted the 2008 elections, but this time it is seemed that the party is fearlessly carrying out its political activities in every part of the city, perhaps becoming a headache for the MQM.
Initially, the politico-religious party has decided to field its candidates on 20 National Assembly and 42 Provincial Assembly seats in Karachi.
Talking to TheNation, a senior JI leader said his party would use its full electoral strength in the forthcoming elections to defeat the MQM which, he said, has turned the city of lights into darkness. He said the JI will get the citizens out of the present turmoil, loadshedding, extortion, targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom and land grabbing. Talking about the candidates, he said, “The JI has finalised Ishaq Khan as its candidate for NA-239, Muhammad Laeeq Khan NA-241, Merajul Huda Siddiqui NA-245, Rashid Naseem NA-246, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman NA-247, Niamatullah Khan NA-250, Zahid Saeed NA-251, Muhammad Hussain Mahenti NA-252, Asadullah Bhutto NA-253 and Osama Razi NA-256.”