Karachi mayor polls: Hafiz Naeem blames PPP for horse-trading

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has blamed Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for horse-trading of the Union Council (UC) chairmen ahead of Karachi mayor polls, ARY News reported on Monday.

While talking to the ARY News programme ‘11th Hour’, Hafiz Naeem said that several videos will be released soon who are supporting the JI mayoral candidate.

He said that those UC chairmen whose videos have surfaced were earlier supporting the JI candidate for Karachi mayor and deputy mayor.

He alleged that PPP is doing horse-trading of UC chairmen ahead of Karachi mayor polls. “Some elected representatives are being threatened who are not ready to sell their consciences.”

READ: Hafiz Naeem says feudal lords want to control Karachi’s mandate

“We have submitted the cope of the Supreme Court’s judgement to the court. The vote in violation of the party instructions will not be counted. We have also challenged the [Sindh LG law] amendment to elect any person [for Karachi mayor’s slot].”

Hafiz Naeem announced that JI will also release videos of the UC chairmen who are supporting the joint candidate of PTI and JI. “Those people whose videos have been released today met us yesterday and told us that they are facing pressure to not vote for JI.”

Hafiz Naeem said that PPP has the best opportunity to accept JI’s mandate. “It is impossible for Karachiites to make an alliance with the PPP.”

“In accordance with the number game, JI will elect its mayor in Karachi. If we are in the majority then how can we accept the deputy mayor’s slot? If we sit as opposition, then we will fully expose PPP.”

READ: Karachi mayor polls: PTI issues strict orders for UC chairmen

Earlier in the day, more than 30 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) UC chairmen and vice chairmen announced not to take part in upcoming elections for Karachi mayor and deputy mayor.

Over 30 PTI UC chairmen and vice chairmen held a session in Karachi and decided not to participate in elections for the Karachi mayor and deputy mayor on June 15. They announced not to vote in favour of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) mayor candidate Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.

It emerged that PTI UC chairmen will remain absent on voting day. The UC chairmen said that they knew the ground realities in Karachi and that the elected local government (LG) representatives have the right to make decisions independently.

“The local leaders took decisions without holding consultations with them and they are not agreeing with the decisions of the office bearers of the PTI Karachi Division.

They added, “JI has taken advantage of the current situation and elected its representatives on the reserved seats. We are not facing any kind of pressure nor accept it in the future.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had announced to unconditionally support JI’s candidate for Karachi mayor after the LG polls.

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