'MQM's victory in by-polls a fitting reply'

MPA Faisal Subzwari says party will sweep general elections 2018

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - Pakistan has termed its victory in the by-polls in five union councils in Karachi a 'fitting' reply to those who believe the party's vote bank in the city has fallen apart.

Addressing a press conference, MPA Faisal Subzwari said his party will also clinch the 2018 general elections in the same manner.



In Thursday's by-polls, MQM-Pakistan's Danish Ali was elected chairman of District Korangi's UC-20 with 2,925 votes, Muhammad Amir won the seat of UC-7 chairman with 1,930 votes and Muhammad Mubin Khan secured 2,511 votes to claim UC-35's vice-chairman seat. Aasia Jamshed became the vice-chairperson of District East's UC-4 with 2,195 votes, Muhammad Shahid became the ward councillor in District West's UC-16 and an independent candidate, Allah Rakha, also won a ward councillor seat in District South's UC-1.

Subzwari said that in the upcoming general election people would vote for candidates with the kite as their electoral symbol. "It is evident by the local bodies' by-polls that people believe in MQM-Pakistan."



He said MQM-Pakistan's town organisers of PIB Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Landhi 'forcibly disappeared' at the hands of law enforcement agencies.

He added the provincial government was protesting for the release of three aides of Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari but paid no heed to the cases of scores of MQM workers.