HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) district president Hanif Siddiqui on Saturday announced to support an independent candidate for NA-227 Haji Muhammad Farid Qureshi after disqualification of PML-N candidate Sahebzada Shabbir Ansari for the same constituency. Reportedly, Farid Qureshi, the younger brother of a notable social activist and philanthropist Haji Ilyas Qureshi, would be contesting against the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Sindh president Sahebzada Abdul Khair Muhammad Zubair and the former MNA of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Sallahuddin. Besides, there is a large community of Qureshi living in Hyderabad, making better chances for Farid Qureshi to win for NA-227 and PS-67. Talking to the media, Qureshi criticised MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for ruining Hyderabad during their respective tenures of rule. “There are heaps of garbage lying on the roads and streets, and there is no proper drainage system in the district,” he said adding that he would improve the situation, if he gets elected. Meanwhile Hanif Siddiqui also announced to support former Sindh minister and PPP candidate Sharjeel Memon for PS-65 constituency of Tando Jam and PPP candidate Imdad Pittafi for Tando Allahyar. Five candidates accuse PPP candidate for violating electoral code of conduct in Hyderabad Five candidates of various political parties on Saturday accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate for PS-64 Abdul Jabbar Khan for misusing government funds to construct roads in Latifabad for garnering public’s support, despite of a ban imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on development activities ahead of general elections. Reportedly, the candidates including Sindh National Tehreek’s Ashraf Noonri, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Ali Hingro, Sindh United Party’s (SUP) Gul Hassan, Allaho Akbar Tehreek’s Waliullah Pahanwar and Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party’s (STP) Amrashi Thakur said that under the electoral code of conduct, holding public meetings without permission, wall chalking and hoisting banners are all banned while no government employee can take part in election campaign for supporting any candidate. They accused Abdul Jabbar Khan for constructing roads in many neighbouring towns of Hyderabad including Moosa Shoro village, Jan Muhammad Rind village, Khamiso Jogi village and installing solar panels in Khattar village. They further alleged that Husri town committee chairman Ghulam Murtaza Shoro, union council (UC-95) chairman Ghulam Hyder Shoro, UC-96 chairman Abdul Rehman Solangi along with union council members of PS-64 were campaigning for Abdul Jabbar Khan, and termed it ‘a sheer violation of electoral code of conduct’. They appealed to the ECP and the district administration of Hyderabad and returning officers (ROs) to take notice about the violations and disqualify him from contesting election. Published in Daily Times, July 22nd 2018.