Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) started negotiations with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to settle on a “formula” for deciding the coveted seat of Karachi’s mayor and the formation of local government (LG). A delegation led by Sindh Labour and Human Resources Minister Saeed Ghani held a meeting with JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman at Noor-e-Haq Institution in Karachi.

Sources privy to the development said that both the parties were holding talks on two formulas according to which one party will have its mayor in Karachi and the other party will govern the towns. The PPP, they added, could conditionally step back from mayorship as its focus is on forming local body governments in towns.

Ghani, while speaking at a joint press conference with Rehman, said that the electoral watchdog had taken notice of the six UCs which the JI had expressed reservations about.

He said that the Sindh government would accept whatever decision the ECP made and would move forward according to the law. He said that the two parties would settle the matter and would continue to talk.

Ghani congratulated the party for winning seats in the local government (LG) elections in Karachi and assured him of addressing the party’s concerns.

Expressing reservations over the recounting of votes, the Rehman said that it was the Sindh government who had appointed the Returning Officers (ROs) and Deputy Returning Officers (DROs) who were recounting the votes.

The JI Karachi chief said that all matters were discussed with the PPP and the concerns about local body election had been shared with the PPP leaders. Talks will be held again if things improve, he added.

Rehman said that his party was ready to recognize the mandate of other parties, as long as their due mandate was recognized by others.

Earlier on Tuesday, the JI Karachi chief showed conditional agreement for holding talks with PPP over Karachi mayorship.