MQM-Pakistan candidates file nomination papers for Senate polls amid infighting

KARACHI (92 News) – As the internal rifts within Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan) have further deepened dividing the party into two factions, the candidates of two factions have on Thursday filed the nomination papers for the senate elections. The party leadership has apparently been divided into two factions over the issuance of tickets to the favorite candidates ahead of Senate elections on March 3. On Wednesday, two separate party meetings were held to contemplate final names of the candidates for upcoming Senate elections, despite the efforts to convince MQM-Pakistan chief Dr Farooq Sattar and breach the deadlock over the names of candidates for Senate elections. Both camps of MQM-P, under leadership of Dr Farooq Sattar and Amir Khan respectively, have submitted the nomination papers of their candidates today. On the other hand, a total of 23 candidates from three political parties in Sindh have filed their nomination forms in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against 12 Senate seats-7 general, two each reserved for technocrats/ulema and women and one for minorities. As many as 20 candidates out of total 23 belonged to the ruling Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), who submitted their nomination papers. Two candidates belonged to Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and one is from Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F). Earlier, reports of contacts between Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and a leader of the MQM-Pakistan have emerged following a stalemate between different factions of the MQM-Pakistan. Sources said that the MQM-Pakistan leader who is in contact with the PPP is also a candidate for the Senate elections and the differences in party is being turned towards the PPP. On the other hand, PPP wanted to take advantage of this rift and if the differences in the MQM-Pakistan persist, PPP would be able to win nine out of 12 seats of the Senate in Sindh.