KARACHI, Jan 21: The Pakistan Muslim League-F announced on Monday that it would boycott by-elections scheduled to be held on Feb 18 for six seats of the Sindh Assembly.

The seats fell vacant after resignation of PPP’s Syed Murad Ali Shah from PS-73, Jamshoro, and Sadiq Ali Memon from PS-84, Thatta; MQM’s Abdul Mooed Siddiqui from PS-101, Dr Mohammad Ali Shah from PS-103, Syed Askari Taqvi from PS-113 and Mohammad Raza Haroon from PS-115.

The decision was announced by PML-F chief Pir Pagara at a press conference where leaders of the Magsi group announced their decision to join the PML-F.

Pir Pagara said the assembly’s term would end only after 50 days and they did not have “ill-gotten” money to spend on campaign for by-polls. He urged his party’s workers to prepare for the general election.

He was optimistic about formation of an alliance comprising all parties outside the ruling coalition to contest the general election.

Monday was the last date for filing nomination papers for by-elections. Nine nominations were filed for five seats, while no one was interested to contest for PS-84.

For PS-73, one nomination, of Sikandar Ali, was received. For PS-101, Jamal Ahmad, Javed Shaukat and Syed Abbasul Hasan submitted their papers. Sohail Ahmad Jamil, Nadeem Hidayat Hashmi and Mohammad Sajid filed nominations for PS-103.

For PS-113, Mohammad Ali Rashid and Jamal Kazim and for PS-115, Talha Asif Taufiq filed papers.

According to Provincial Election Commissioner Mehboob Anwar, scrutiny of nomination papers will be carried out on Jan 26, appeals can be filed against acceptance or rejection of the papers by Jan 28, nominations can be withdrawn by Jan 31 and final list of the candidates will be published on Feb 1.

ALLIANCE: Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) and the PML-F decided on Monday to form an electoral alliance.

The decision was taken at a meeting held between a JUI-F delegation led by Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro and PML-F leader Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh.

Both parties agreed to form a broader alliance, including the National People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-N, Awami Tehrik and other parties which were part of the Sindh Bachao Committee.

The alliance is likely to be given a final shape soon at a meeting to be presided over by Pir Pagara.

Leaders of the two parties said the country was facing a serious crisis of law and order, failing economy, energy shortage, rampant corruption and flour shortage that had made the life of people miserable and they were fed up with the PPP leadership.