KARACHI: Former Prime Minister and President of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Shehbaz Sharif<\/a> has opted not to contest the upcoming elections from the NA-242 constituency in Karachi. This decision comes after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) declined to withdraw its candidate, Mustafa Kamal, from NA-242.<\/p>\n The withdrawal of nomination papers by Shehbaz Sharif has raised the stakes in the electoral dynamics of NA-242, signaling a failure in seat adjustment talks between the PML-N and MQM-P. In response to this development, PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi announced that Khawaja Shoaib would now be the PML-N candidate for NA-242, as no consensus could be reached with MQM-P.<\/p>\n Earlier, Khalid Maqbool, a spokesperson for MQM-P, clarified that Mustafa Kamal would remain their candidate for NA-242, dismissing reports of any seat adjustment with PML-N. This clarification follows initial speculations that MQM-P and PML-N had reached an agreement over seat adjustment for Karachi’s NA-242 constituency.<\/p>\n The electoral scenario in NA-242 becomes increasingly competitive, as the parties grapple with the complexities of seat adjustments and candidate withdrawals ahead of the upcoming general elections.<\/p>\n Mahmood Khan Achakzai, head of PakhtunKhaw Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), on Friday announced his withdrawal from the NA-265 constituency in favour of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.<\/p>\n Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be contesting the upcoming general elections from NA-265 Pishin.<\/p>\n Earlier on January 09, the ECP allotted election symbols to 145 political parties across Pakistan for general elections 2024.<\/p>\n The ECP also allotted electoral symbols to 177 independent candidates contesting the general election 2024 on February 8.<\/p>\nWhile,<\/h3>\n