PML-N's presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain is garlanded upon his arrival at MQM headquarters 90. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI: Having secured support the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for the upcoming Presidential elections, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) presidential candidate said if elected, he will be a neutral President.
"If I am elected as president, i will make sure that I am not the president of one party, but of all Pakistanis," Hussain said during a joint press conference outside MQM headquarters 90 in Karachi, in an apparent swipe at man he hopes to replace.
"Since I belong to Karachi, it will be my special priority to address the specific problems of Karachi the best I can."
MQM's deputy convener Khalid Maqbool Siddique while addressing the combined press conference reiterated that the MQM will unconditionally support Hussain for the July 30 elections.
"While it is unconditional support, it is with the expectation that the incumbent government will work to solve Pakistan's economic crisis, eradication of poverty, terrorism. For good governance in getting us out of an economic crisis."
Earlier, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation visited the MQM headquarters at 90 in Karachi and formally invited the MQM to join the federal government, Express News reported.
In a high level meeting on Friday night between the PML-N and MQM delegation at the latter's headquarters at 90 in Karachi, MQM formally announced its support for PML-N’s presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain in the July 30 presidential elections.
A high powered MQM delegation welcomed their guests including Governor Sind Ishratul Ebad, Deputy Convener Rabita Committee Khalid Maqbool Siddique, member Rabita Committee Amir Khan, Syed Sardar Ahmed, and opposition leader Faisal Sabzwari.
PML-N presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain accompanied by the Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid along with other political leaders were part of the delegation.
During the meeting, MQM chief Altaf Hussain also spoke to PML-N members via telephone.
MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi tweeted about the ongoing meeting.
https://twitter.com/HaiderRizviMQM/status/360792036665872384
PML-N had earlier formally requested MQM for its support in the upcoming presidential elections.
Sources said that all formalities allowing the MQM to extend its support to the PML-N were almost complete. The mutual cooperation between PML-N and MQM is expected to continue even after the presidential elections scheduled to be held on July 30.
COMMENTS (36)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@liberal_pak: An if there would have been any pricipal, what would that be, requested to enlighten us.
@Shahzad: Today I feel that I did right no to vote for PTI, don't have to bother to defend a 60+ so called youth leader, to those who prohibited women to go to bazar, to those PTI members who taunted Bushra Gohar for her dupatta(shameless creature), to those who exploited the people's sentiment about drone and Nato supply and claim that they will stop drone attack, but now it seems that don't have the ball to even go for a sitin to stop Nato supply, a leader (ik) who is more keen to save Asian elephant rather attending APC, a leader who in a interview to (karan Thapar) ask not to question about religious extremism because look what they have done to Salman Taseer, to those who declare corruption the biggest menace of pakistan and advertised the biggest election campaign in history of pakistan but in doing so invlove itself in the biggest corruption scandal in their own ranks Now, PTI,JI and TTP building a naya Pakistan, make me so relaxed that i didn't support these people.
@Aysha N: If PML N have s single evidane abou the Altaf Bhai, I bet they wouldn't had wasted a second to get that trophy (Altaf Bhai) by cooperating with the SLY and would have already leak that evidance in pakistani media just like Abbotabad commission report, rather than looking for MQM support for PML N presidential candidate who, wheter MQM supports or not is going to be the next president of Pakistan.
Arzal Ahmed Support for PML N cadidate is a good decision, but my request to MRC not to sit in the federal cabinet, because this may potrait MQM into to likes of Moulana Fazal ur Rehman an opportunist, MQM should seek N league support for karachi Law & Order, Local body system, and curbing the Lyari gangwar and PPP unanounce alliance in Kaachi. MQM & PML N r two different ideological parties. MQM is a Left wing party and beign that we must have a distance with a Right wing parties (N leage,PTI) as considering their support for Taliban and radicalization of of pakistani society, (Shahbaz Sharif tweet about MALALA) becasue i think if MQM goes some extra lenght to accomodate PML N than it may damage the MQM's secular and liberal image in the eyes of of its secular minded supporters. But please just don't join PML N cabinet. Nawaz Sharif offering to join federal cabinet is a clever attemp to paint MQM as an opportunist party. Well good luck
@ Saad If you have ever visited Clifton Block-2, you will realise how miserable the life of Karachiites has been made by Asif Zardari and his sycophants in Sindh. It is highly likely that the new President from Karachi will redress the genuine grievances of Karachiites as well as for the people all over the country.
While MQM takes a bold decision of not to be blackmailed by PPPPTI any more, it is supporting the Karachiite candidate of PMLN. The PMLN has presence all over the country whereas PPP & PTI are only the regional parties with no presence in Balochistan and PPP completely kicked out from Punjab & KPK. The country has also observed great visionary steps of the PMLN Leadership in giving PTI a "chance" to rule in KPK when PTI is also a minority (majority starts at 50% while PTI is hardly 34%), and BNP-led Baloch nationalists to make the Government despite the fact that PMLN is the largest minority in Balochistan Assembly. Similarly Mian Sb has advised his members to stay away from dislodging the government of Chaudhry Abdul Majeed in AJK. Hence proven that PMLN is the most sensible & mature leadership representing & combining the federating units together. In these circumstances, MQM has taken a wise decision to support the Federal Party representing the entire Pakistan. Long Live Pakistan!
@Saad: "The second statement directly contradicts the first. As President, you should be able to look at the country’s problems, not just your locality."
It's called "Josh e khitabat."
Ch.Allah Daad where are you?
“If I am elected as president, i will make sure that I am not the president of one party, but of all Pakistanis,” Hussain said during a joint press conference outside MQM headquarters 90 in Karachi, in an apparent swipe at man he hopes to replace. “Since I belong to Karachi, it will be my special priority to address the specific problems of Karachi the best I can.”
The second statement directly contradicts the first. As President, you should be able to look at the country's problems, not just your locality.
All those who voted for this mess , Thanks !!
Impressed by ET headline today, Had it been PTI you know how different it would have been!
To the delight of MQM leadership PML-N has extended the quota system for another 20 years. Now MQM once again has a genuine argument to continue to raise slogans against the quota system and such inequalities. As a token of thanks MQM decided to support PML-N the very next day!
Before elections one of the major allegations of PML(N) on PTI was that they are supported by MQM. MQM sent its workers on 25th December on Mazar e Qaid. PTI is pro MQM. Now today i want them to come justify this act of PML(N).
@Aysha N:
What a joke. Its the PMLN that has turned up at 90 and not the other way around.
Where are PMLN supporters now who used to call MQM terrorist and what not? Where are you guys? Come out and explain your party leadership’s action now.
what a shame being Pakistani I cant descript it....
thanks i did not vote for PTI....it joined hand with JI and became pakistan talibans iteehaad
This will prove last nail in the coffin of all hypocrites.
For the sake of their voters and to the benefit of their province MQM should also join the provincial got by accepting the long awaited invitation by PPP. This would make sure that PML-N does not use MQM to destabilize Sindh govt of elected people and try to impose its rule on Sindh.
Shameless PMLN
O yeahhhhhhh ! you forgot about a few more... Jamaica, Ghana, USA, UAE, Afghanistan, Qatar, Argentina, Spain, Italy.
RIP logic !
@Aysha N: Congratulations on pioneering target trolling, good luck.
I wonder how ch nisar, and nawaz will talk to mqm's waseem akhtar eye to eye during cabinet meetings, given the past references to mr. Beans, wigs, and some Specialized medicines. If I were him, I won't be able to keep my laughter.
Jumping the Shot Gun AGAIN. Support doesn't mean becoming a part of Govt.
Glad to see MQM and QeT Altaf Hussain Standing up for Karachiite Mamnoom Hussain.
Unconditional support, says MQM. We all know what that means.
MQM is a reality and pmln policy to recognize / respect mandate of every party is good for the future of country.
Oh God. Why? Whyyyyy?
Today I feel that I did right to vote for PTI and not this spinless PML(N). I wonder where PML(N) supporters and Express Tribune want to bang their heads tonight (only if they have a little bit of self respect left). Now, USAID, MQM and PML(N) will build a roshan Pakistan :), makes me so relaxed that I didn't support these people!
Congratulations to PML 'Nawaz' supporters!
Here we go again,.., MQM in govt.!!
PML-N has basically forced MQM into agreeing with their terms. If MQMQ did not agree then Chaudhry Nisar would have started to cooperate with Scotland Yard.
MQM is the best party and the only hope for Sind, Balochistan, Bihar, Nigeria and Brazil.
This is ridiculous!! Pathetic PMLN started showing its true colors…
MQM must define k akhir chahye kia ??
A moment of silence for all those Ghulams of MQM and PMLN. Here they come trolling justifying again...