NA-246 by-polls: Siraj predicts MQM chief's resignation 'for one last time'

Says Karachi's decisions will be taken in the city and not in 'the corridors of London'

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq has said that "Altaf Hussain will once more tender his resignation on April 23, the day of polling in the NA-246 constituency, and will not reverse his decision this time”.

Addressing a gathering of the party’s women wing on Friday as part of the campaign for the by-polls, he said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief had resigned from his party ‘nine times’, adding that Altaf will tender his resign this time to never take it back.

Siraj also accused the MQM of recruiting thousands of ‘employees’, loyal to the party in government departments.

He said that now the decisions of Karachi will be taken in the city and not in, what he called, corridors of London, adding that the rule of tyranny and suppression is about to end in the ‘city of lights’.

Read: Joining forces: MQM, JI form alliance for Peshawar cantonment polls

Siraj urged the dwellers of the metropolitan to cast their vote for a change, saying that people of the city have to decide its fate.

Regarding the role of women during the JI rule, Siraj said womenfolk will be provided with due share of inheritance, and urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to scrutinize the candidates for the elections on the standards of treatment of women, and if they have delivered the right of share in inheritance to them.

Read: NA-246 by-polls: Siraj advises Altaf to withdraw his candidate in JI's favour

Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Shireen Mazari hoped their "allies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province will withdraw their candidate in PTI's favour".

Parties, including PTI, JI and MQM have stepped up their campaign in NA-246 by-polls, with the constituency believed to be an MQM-stronghold.

Read: NA-246 constituency: JI, MQM workers face off in Karachi by-election

They are also seeking to gather the support of other forces in the constituency. On Thursday, independent candidate Ashraf Qureshi withdrew his candidature in favour of the PTI.