Sattar mulls joining PTI, contesting NA-247

MQM-P senior leader files petition in ECP over excessive expenditure by political parties during electioneering

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar on Thursday said he was deliberating over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) offer to join the party and contest NA-247 (Karachi South II), Express News reported.



The seat was vacated by Dr Arif Alvi shortly after being elected president. Sattar said PTI leaders had reached out to him with an invitation to join the party. “They want me to contest from Alvi’s seat. I am consulting with close aides.”

Sattar was addressing the media outside Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Islamabad after submitting a petition against excessive expenditure by political parties during electioneering.



In his petition, Sattar requested the ECP to scrutinise political parties’ expenditure and claimed the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI had exceeded the limit set by the commission for campaign purposes.

“Billions were spent on media campaigns,” he said, adding that the candidates were deprived of a level-playing field.

Sattar said the expense incurred by political parties should be made part of party assets.