At a press conference on Monday, he said he would tackle all the garbage and all the filth in the city. The by-election will take place on July 27. It is for the seat left vacant upon Aamir Liaquat’s death.

Sattar said he had hoped and tried to stand with Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and they met a few times to try to iron out a way.

“I was separated from the MQM, but I did not separate,” he said. “Our vote bank wants us to unite.”