KARACHI: All four candidates fielded by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on four vacant provincial assembly seats in Karachi have been returned unopposed.

The MQM candidates — Jamal Ahmed, Nadeem Hidayat, Muhammad Ali Rashid and Arshad Abdullah — were elected unopposed from PS-101, 103, 113 and 115, respectively.

Jan 30 was the last date of withdrawal of nomination papers and all candidates, except the MQM ones, took back their candidature.

The four seats fell vacant after the resignations of MQM lawmakers Abdul Moeed Farooqui, Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, Syed Askari Taqvi and Muhammad Raza Haroon. They did not submit an affidavit that they were not holding dual nationality and resigned.

There will be no by-election in Karachi following the unopposed victory of the four candidates.

However, the by-elections would be held on PS- 73 Jamshoro and PS-84 in Thatta district on Feb 18 as per the schedule announced by the election commission.

The two seats fell vacant after the resignations of Syed Murad Ali Shah and Sadiq Ali Memon of the Pakistan People’s Party.