KARACHI: Despite intense negotiations at a high level, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) faced a setback on Friday as it failed to secure an agreement with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan on a seat adjustment formula for the upcoming general elections in Karachi. Additionally, the parties were unable to reach a consensus on fielding a joint candidate from NA-242 in Karachi.

A prominent delegation from PMLN, led by its president and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, visited the MQM headquarters in Bahadurabad. The delegation included Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ayaz Sadiq, and Marriyum Aurangzeb. They engaged in discussions with MQM Pakistan leaders Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mustafa Kamal, Farooq Sattar, and other members of the party’s Coordination Committee. Despite exploring proposals for forming an electoral alliance for the upcoming elections in Karachi, the parties failed to reach an agreement on a seat adjustment formula.

Both sides agreed to continue discussions and increase engagement through committees to address political challenges. However, no decision was made regarding fielding a candidate from NA-242 in Karachi. Both Shehbaz Sharif and Mustafa Kamal have submitted their nomination papers for this constituency.

The MQM is unwilling to concede NA-242 to Shehbaz Sharif, while the PMLN provincial leadership insists that the former PM should contest from this particular constituency. It was also revealed that the MQM is not inclined to relinquish NA and PA constituencies in Karachi in favor of any other party.

The MQM requested more time from the PMLN for further intra-party deliberations to form an electoral alliance. The leadership of both parties is expected to meet again after the completion of the scrutiny of nomination papers.

After the meeting at the MQM headquarters, Shehbaz Sharif, speaking to the media, expressed that certain influential forces desire Pakistan to remain in a perpetual state of political and economic unrest. He highlighted that former PM Nawaz Sharif faced legal consequences for not drawing a salary from his son, contrasting the situation with politicians who avoided court appearances despite judicial summons. Shehbaz pledged to address issues such as the water tanker mafia in Karachi, enhance public infrastructure, and empower the youth with technical skills to boost Pakistan’s development.

Shehbaz conveyed warm wishes from Nawaz Sharif and emphasized that PMLN and MQM Pakistan had previously collaborated as coalition partners to aid flood victims and avert a potential countrywide default. He appreciated the enthusiasm and sincerity of political associates from MQM in resolving mutual issues, emphasizing that the future political landscape in Pakistan holds numerous challenges.

MQM Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui welcomed Shehbaz Sharif to the party’s headquarters and expressed a desire to strengthen the cordial ties between MQM and PMLN. Siddiqui advocated for establishing a regime based on a participatory and shared system of democracy in the country.