PML-N, MQM-P to contest Feb 8 polls jointly

• Parties agree to adopt joint strategy to bring country out of crises. 
• Sattar calls the need for broader understanding, cooperation.
• Decision comes after MQM-P delegation met Nawaz Sharif. 

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday announced that they would be jointly contesting the upcoming general elections — scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024.

The development comes following a meeting of an MQM-P delegation led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar and Syed Mustafa Kamal with the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in Lahore at the party's Model Town secretariat.

Later, speaking to the media, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique said, "It had been decided that both parties will contest February 8 polls jointly".

“Both parties have agreed to adopt a joint strategy to bring the people of Pakistan out of the current crises and to put Pakistan back on the path of development. The two parties also decided to set up a six-member committee to prepare a comprehensive charter to address the problems of Sindh province, especially its urban areas. The committee will present the final proposals for cooperation between the two parties to the leadership within 10 days,” a PML-N statement issued after the meeting stated.

As the general elections approach, the rifts between PML-N and PPP have become deeper as the latter is persistently voicing concerns regarding the absence of equal opportunities to prove itself ahead of the polls.

The Bilawal-led party has claimed that the PML-N has denied a level playing field in the upcoming polls.

Recently, the PPP also said that it was open to forging an alliance with any political party including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the Nawaz-led party. 

Speaking about the political and economic conditions in the country, Sattar said that no party is in a position to steer the country out of the crisis singlehandedly.

"There is a need for broader understanding and cooperation," said the MQM-P leader, adding that a joint strategy will be adopted in the elections.

Sattar also spoke about Karachi, saying that the port city generates 60% of the revenue. "National consensus has to be reached for the solution of all the problems in Karachi," he added.

Meanwhile, Kamal said that it was the parties' political, moral, and constitutional responsibility to understand the issues of the country, stressing that Pakistan has to be taken out of crises with strong leadership.

He also highlighted that the country needed strong and tough decisions to deal with the issues. "IMF (International Monetary Fund) cannot take Pakistan out of crises, but Karachi can," said Kamal.