PTI, ally MQM-P to boycott Senate seat election

PTI and its ally Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have decided to boycott a Senate seat election. The seat fell vacant following the disqualification of PTI’s Faisal Vawda for concealing his dual nationality.

The Election Commission of Pakistan released the final list of candidates for the seat. According to the list, PPP’s Nisar Khuhro, PTI’s Aga Arsalan Khan and three independent candidates Aziz Dhamra, Ali Ahmed and Gul Muhammad Jakhrani are contesting the elections.

Federal Minister Ali Haider Zaidi announced the boycott on Twitter. “The PTI-led opposition will boycott the Senate elections in Sindh Assembly tomorrow on the seat vacated by Faisal Vavada’s DQ,” he tweeted.

He said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was also disqualified on grounds of dual nationality and his case is still pending in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. “It is humbly requested that this matter be heard at the earliest,” he said.

On the other hand, the MQM-P also decided to boycott the Senate election in its coordination committee meeting. The meeting was presided over by Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Convener of MQM-P on Tuesday.