KARACHI: Violence and controversy marred by-elections on the NA-245 and PS-115 constituencies being held in Karachi on Monday, with scuffles breaking out between rival parties at some polling stations and an election candidate changing loyalties at the last moment.
Hours before polling began at 8:00AM, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate for NA-245, Amjadullah Khan, stepped down in favour of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Amjadullah made the last minute announcement in a press conference at the MQM’s Nine-Zero headquarters.
“With great regret, I have to say that people like me are unable to fit in parties like the PTI,” said Amjadullah, flanked by senior MQM leaders. He said that class differences between rich and poor existed in the PTI and that there was a serious lack of discipline in the Karachi chapter of the PTI, prompting him to leave the party.
But, soon after his announcement, Amjadullah came under attack not only from leaders of his former party, but also the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), which claimed that he approached them earlier and demanded money to withdraw from the by-election.
Najmi Alam, president of the PPP Karachi chapter, said Amjadullah met him Wednesday night before joining the MQM and offered to withdraw in favour of the PPP. Alam claimed Amjadullah asked the PPP for monetary benefits to withdraw by-poll, but the PPP rejected his offer, after which he approached another party.
