PPP leader Saeed Ghani softened his tone on Sunday while speaking about political rivals after the PTI announced its decision to back the Jamaat-e-Islami for Karachi mayor.

“If the mayor of Karachi belongs to PPP, he can do a better job,” he said at a press conference in Karachi which centered on the next head of the city and national politics. “We did not seek PTI’s support.”

On Saturday, the PTI threw its weight behind JI’s Hafiz Naeemur Rehman for the coveted slot. JI’s Naeem is in a strong position to be elected as mayor after the coalition. But, there is many a slip between the cup and lip.

In his last press conference, Ghani alleged that Naeem was becoming the “next Altaf Hussain” as he slammed the rival political party for crying foul after losing local bodies elections.

But this time Ghani did not use such terms. He said that the PPP has 173 seats and if the PTI joins with JI their seats would be 193. “Local government constituencies have been formed by the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the government as per the law decided on the number of towns and union councils.

He advised political rivals to avoid misinformation.

He claimed that the PTI members would not vote for Naeem. “If for mayor election, they get a majority, which is not expected, then they should become we have no objection. If they don’t get a majority, then open-heartedly accept that.”

But Ghani said that the problem with Naeem was similar to what PTI chief Imran Khan has: frustration.

In the recently concluded Karachi local bodies polls, PPP emerged as the largest party but it failed to secure a simple majority of 179 votes needed for the seat of Karachi mayor.

The Sindh-ruling party will need at least 22 seats even after an alliance with the JUI and the PML-N.

In terms of the number of seats, PPP is the largest party in Karachi with 98 seats so far, followed by JI with 89 seats and PTI with 42 seats; however, no party has a simple majority.

According to political experts, prospects of putting forward the next mayor of Karachi are bright; however, given that a party needs at least 124 seats (reserved seats not included) in the city council to secure the desired majority for winning the mayoral poll, the party will have to form alliances.