PK-8 by-elections: JI’s LG representatives against favouring PTI candidate

PESHAWAR:

Local government representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami have threatened to resign if the party’s leadership withdrew its candidate in favour of a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf hopeful for the PK-8, Peshawar-VII by-elections.

This was announced by 44 LG representatives during a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday.

They said JI chief Sirajul Haq and the party’s provincial chief, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, forcibly want to withdraw their candidate, Fazalullah Daudzai, in favour of a PTI candidate, Shehzad Khan.

According to the LG representatives, Fazalullah is a much stronger candidate compared to the PTI hopeful.

The JI party members, led by Dilbar Bacha, reiterated that they would no longer be affiliated with the party if its election hopeful was withdrawn.

A day earlier, a local organisation in Daudzai, affiliated with JI, refused to withdraw its candidate in favour of PTI’s candidate.

It has vowed to write a letter to Siraj to address this matter.

PTI has managed to persuade Qaumi Watan Party to support its candidate.

All Pakistan Muslim League has also thrown its weight behind PTI. However, JI’s reluctance to give in is likely to produce countless problems for the party’s candidate.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2016.