Jamat-e-Islami (JI) has contacted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ahead of election for the Karachi mayor and deputy mayor’s slots, scheduled to take place on June 15. According to details, a JI delegation led by Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman – the party candidate for the mayor slot – arrived at the residence of PML-N Sindh President Shah Muhammad Shah. Both parties discussed the upcoming elections Karachi mayor and deputy mayor’s slots and other local government issues. The political parties agreed on holding of elections in “independent, transparent and democratic manner”.
Meanwhile, PML-N Sindh president Shah Muhammad Shah – in a statement – said that Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has sought the party’s support for Mayor Karachi.
“We are allies of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) but have not extended support for anyone in mayor elections,” he said, adding that the final decision would be taken by party supremo Nawaz Sharif and president Shehbaz Sharif.
The total number of seats in the City Council is 371 and the mayor needs to enjoy the simple majority in the council, which is 186 members. ‘PML-N seeks deputy mayor slot: Earlier, PML-N demanded the slot of Karachi deputy mayor as a condition for ‘supporting’ Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Mayor election.
Politicking for the slot of Karachi Mayor was underway as Pakistan People’s Party – which emerged as the largest party in the City Council with 104 chairman seats – held negotiations with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – which has 14 seats.