SHIKARPUR: MPA Shaharyar Mahar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) on Monday announce d that his party was open to all for an electoral alliance. He rejected the claim by Pakistan Peoples Party that it was the only party which had been safeguarding the interests of Sindh and its people and serving the masses in democratic dispensations.

Mr Mahar, who has previously led the opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly in 201415, was spealcing at a press conference in Mahar House after a lunch hosted by him for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Dr Muzaffar Issani.

A PML-F candidate, Khuda Bukhsh Mir ani, defeated his rival PPP candidate Siraj Ahmed Wadhyo in the April 13 by-election for the slot of Walisabad union council (Garhi Yasin) vice chairman with the support of Dr Issani.

Mr Mahar told reporters that the PML-F had extended support to the PPP in the Oct 20,2016by electionforPS-11(Shikarpur)and also its candidate Babar Ahmed alias Sunny Sanjrani for the slot of Shikarpur municipalcommittee chairman. However, he said, an electoral alliance in future with any party was possible. `Seat adjustment is a natural phenomenon,` he said, adding that PML-F would welcome any major party for the purpose.

Mr Mahar also welcomed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif`s development packages for Thatta and Jacobabad during his recent visits to the two districts, and said these were much needed as the PPP had never bothered to pay due attention to the plight of such backward areas.

Mr Mahar said the PML-F central leadership had been meeting its PPP, PML-N and PTIcounterparts onvarious occasions toseek their commitment on development and socioeconomic uplift of Sindh. `PML-F will support a party that makes a solid commitment, he said while explaining his party`s strategy for the nextgeneralelections.

The former opposition leader claimed that the PPP kept misleading and misguiding people in the past to create an impression that it was the only saviour of the country.

He observed that its [PPP`s] bad governance in Sindh had created a big political void which could be filled by the PML-N orPakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

`Although the PML-N and all other parties failed to get Sindh its due constitutional rights, there is an opportunity for the parties other than the PPP to come out with a plan and commitment,` he said.

He said the PML-N and PTI should launch their vigorous election campaigns in Sindh with the aim of discouraging political monopoly of a party.

He observed that local government institutions existed but were without administrative and financial powers due to which no noticeable development in rural or urban areas was tal(ing place.

He further observed that Shikarpur had again descended to lawlessness after a brief period of peace as street crime was on the rise and terrorists were finding their way into different parts of the district.

Dr Issani told reporters that he and other PML-N leaders would continue to maintain good political relations with the Mahar brothers.

In reply to a question, he said he would never join the PPP as strengthening that party was detrimental to the interests of Sindh, particularly Shikarpur district.