Elections a contest between liberal and extremist forces: says Altaf

HYDERABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain that May 11 general election is a contest between liberal and extremist forces and vowed that his party would not boycott the polls.He was speaking to party workers at MQM’s main election campaign meeting on Wednesday night in Pucca Qilla ground.

Day of mourning in Sindh today

KARACHI: True to their declared stance of keeping liberal democratic parties out of the election process, militants continued to mount pressure on MQM and PPP and attacked the election office of the former in Karachi and the office of a candidate of the latter in Nushki in Balochistan on Thursday.

The acts of terror claimed at least eight lives in Sindh and Balochistan, casting a pall of gloom over election activities across the country.

In Karachi, the MQM announced a day of mourning across Sindh on Friday. Traders said they would to keep their businesses shut and schools announced a day of closure and rescheduled some exams.

MQM’s provincial assembly candidate killed in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: A Muttahida Qaumi Movement candidate of  Sindh’s provincial assembly from PS-47 constituency, Fakhrul Islam was shot to death by unknown assailants in Hala naka area of Hyderabad on Thursday, DawnNews reported.

The unknown attackers managed to escape from the scene after the incident.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain condemned the incident in strong words and said in a statement issued from London that such cowardly acts would not deter the confidence of party workers, adding that the party workers shared the loss and grievance with the family members of the deceased.