Upcoming elections: MQM chief asks for more time to submit nominations

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief has requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to allow more time for the party’s candidates to submit their nomination papers for the upcoming general elections.

“The submission date, which is from March 28 to March 31, is so near,” said Altaf Hussain. “The nomination forms are very extensive and require time to be completed.” It was only a week ago that the MQM started issuing application forms to candidates to contest for the provincial and national assembly seats, he added.

Alliance denied

The MQM has denied forming an alliance with former president Pervez Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League (APML). A statement issued by the MQM Rabita Committee said that such media reports are baseless.

“There will be no seat adjustment or any form of alliance with the APML,” it said. On the other hand, news channels have been reporting about Musharraf’s alliance with the MQM, and the MQM’s decision to make him their candidate from the NA-250 constituency. The party challenged that if anyone had a copy of the agreement, they should make it public.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2013.