MQM-P announces to support PTI, both parties sign nine-point MoU

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Friday announced to support Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and also signed a nine-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The decision followed a meeting between a MQM-P delegation and the Chairman PTI Imran Khan at Banigala in Islamabad.

The MQM-P delegation included Khalid Maqbool Siddique, Waseem Akhtar, Faisal Sabzwari, and Aamir Khan. PTI’s leader Shahbaz Mehmood Qureshi, Jahangir Khan Tareen, Arif Alvi, Asad Umar, Imran Ismail and Naeem-ul-Haq were also present in the meeting.

MQM delegation calls on Khan sb in Banigala #WazireAzamImranKhan iA pic.twitter.com/01pVi79wDY

— TeamJKT (@JKTFanClubb) August 3, 2018

Later addressing a Joint Press conference, Jahangir Tareen said that the people of Karachi supported PTI and gave mandate to it. He said that MQM-Pakistan has decided to support PTI.

Jahangir Tareen said that we will strengthen the local bodies system in Karachi. He said that mandate of PTI give importance to the local bodies system. He said that special financial package will be announced for Karachi.

The MQM-P Convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that we will support PTI for the democracy. He said that we will work with PTI for independent local bodies system. He said that development of Karachi is the development of Pakistan.

Earlier, the PTI President Sindh Dr Arif Alvi and the MQM-P Member Rabita Committee Faisal Sabzwari signed a nine-point MoU. The points of MoU include;

1. The resolution passed by the National Assembly regarding Karachi census and as decided in the Council of common Interest (CCI) should be implemented immediately.
2. In line with PTI and MQM manifesto the Local Government System in Sindh and Punjab does not conform to the Constitutional requirements under section 140 A. PTI will support the petition of the MQM-P, which is before the Supreme Court of Pakistan in this regard.
3. The Karachi operation shall be reviewed in totality and in consultation with all stakeholders. All parties should have a level playing field.
4. All appointments in the government should be based on merit and according to law through an accredited, impartial testing system.
5. Octroi was abolished in 1998, the decision made then was that the affected cities would be compensated with a share in proportion to the loss, in lieu of Octroi taxes. That decision should be implemented fully.
6. The Urban centers of Sindh including Karachi have been severely neglected in the past. A direct financial package will be announced immediately that shall be disbursed by the federal government with the special emphasis on water.
7. Both parties shall strive to introduce police reforms as implemented by PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and promised by MMQ-P in its manifesto, so that police is de-politicized and is recruited with merit in letter and spirit according to law that envisages local recruitment.
8. A University of international level and repute shall be established in Hyderabad.
9. It is agreed in line, with the statement given by the PTI Chairman Imran Khan, election audit would take place of any of the constituencies pointed out by MQM-P.