JI, PTI seek to forge alliance for Karachi mayor's election.

KARACHI -- As uncertainties loom over the results of Karachi's local bodies polls, Jamaat-i-Islami on Saturday held a meeting with the PTI to form an alliance for the appointment of mayor.

A JI delegation, led by the party's city chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman met the PTI's provincial leadership, hinting at forming an alliance.

However, the PTI refrained from offering any clear assurance to unconditionally support Mr Rehman, who was JI's mayoral candidate.

After the meeting, the JI leader, along with PTI Sindh President Ali Zaidi, told the media that his party has presented a proposal of appointing Karachi's mayor unanimously, adding his party was in a position to appoint the mayor.

Naeemur Rehman says mandate of winner should be protected; Ali Zaidi vows joint struggle against 'rigging'

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has emerged as the single largest party in Karachi with 96 seats after Sunday's polls. The JI was the runner-up with 83 seats and the PTI won 43 seats.

Since a mayor needs the votes of half of the 367-member City Council, one could be appointed if any of the two parties form an alliance.

Mr Rehman said all political parties were responsible to protect the mandate of whoever had won. 'The JI wants to achieve a consensus for the city's development.'

The PTI provincial chief said the JI and the PTI had decided to raise their voices in a constitutional, legal and democratic way to protect their respective mandate.

He said both parties agreed to form a four-member committee over the issue.

The committees will exchange Form-11 in which the candidates of the two parties were declared winners.

Mr Zaidi said the Form-11 is signed by the ECP's presiding officers, and if results are tampered with after issuing the Form-11, they will not accept those results and raise voices against it.

The JI leader said despite all differences, his party was ready to work with every party in the city for its betterment.

He recalled the two parties formed an alliance in...