- Faisal Vawda does not believe that the PPP will secure power at the Centre.
- He says the PTI founder was “full of himself” during his time in the party.
- MQM-P's Siddiqui hopes the former PTI leader will be inducted into the party.
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Monday expressed its willingness to see former federal minister Faisal Vawda join its ranks ahead of the Senate elections to be held on April 2.
“We had invited Vawda to join [MQM-P] in the past […] I pray that he joins the ranks of the party,” MQM-P leader Rauf Siddiqui said while speaking to reporters in Karachi.
Commenting on the upcoming Senate elections, MQM-P's Siddiqui, who is also a candidate in the polls, said the party has fielded a total of eight candidates for the upper house.
However, Vawda has reiterated that he remains an “independent” political leader.
“I am still an independent,” Vawda said during a news conference in Karachi, adding that he would consider joining a political party when it is “in season,” as independent candidates are currently trending.
Expressing his views on the political landscape and prospects of Pakistan People's Party (PPP)'s role at the Centre, Vawda, who is contesting the Senate elections as an independent, said he does not see the party led by Bilawal Bhutto secure power in Islamabad. .
Without naming names, the former minister recalled his 14-year association with the PTI and highlighted that both the party and its founder were very cocky during his tenure.
Vawda, whose party membership was canceled by the PTI in 2022 for his comments on the party's long march, has been quite vocal in the political arena.
Last week, the former minister had called Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz “Buzdar II”, in reference to former CM Usman Buzdar, who served as the province's chief executive during the PTI rule.
Since his departure from the PTI, Vawda has often been criticized by former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan.
Senate polls
Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced holding of Senate elections for 48 seats after the expiry of the six-year term of sitting senators on March 11.
Voting for the Senate elections will be held at the Parliament House in Islamabad as well as in the four provincial assemblies from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Members of the assemblies of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh and Punjab would vote to elect members against seven general seats, two women and two seats for technocrats, including ulema.
The Punjab and Sindh assemblies would also vote for one seat each for non-Muslims.
Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly will elect a senator for a general seat and a seat for technocrats, including the ulama of the federal capital.
