MQM-P finally boycotts Karachi, Hyderabad LG polls.

KARACHI -- After a marathon series of meetings, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-Q) boycotted the local government elections as a protest against what it called 'unfair' attitude of the Election Commission of Pakistan. However, the party made it clear that they were not leaving the federal government for the sake of democracy. Addressing a presser at the party's headquarters in Bahadurabad, MQM-P Convener Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the alleged pre-poll rigging had already been done and they did not consider it as polls. 'We had approached all concerned platforms for free and fair elections but to no avail. We are withdrawing from the election and the people should also withdraw from their right to vote,' he added. Syed Mustafa Kamalm, Dr. Farooq Sattar, Faisal Sabzwari, Wasim Akhtar, MPA Muhammad Hussain and other Rabita Committee members were also present on the occasion.

'The real representatives of Karachi will be back,' he said. He asked the people of Karachi and Hyderabad to boycott the polls and remain at homes as their votes will not be counted fairly. The MQM-P Convener also took a jibe at the Jamaat-e-Islami and said it was part of the conspiracy against the city despite the fact that it also seconded the MQM's stance on delimitation 'Taking part in this electoral process will be tantamount to justify the unfair elections,' he said and added that the party will be initiating another movement from 16th January. Without us no party could form the federal government and even today no party could form the city government,' he added. He said that delimitation was the supreme responsibility of the ECP and it has failed miserably to fulfil its duties. 'We have been trying to get justice...