Peshawar by-poll: PTI in for a rough ride as JUI-F and PML-N join hands

Fazlur Rehman withdraws his candidate in favour of the ruling party

PESHAWAR:  

 

 

 

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has withdrawn its candidate from a National Assembly bye-election in Peshawar in favour of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Nasir Khan Musazai.

The two parties have joined forces to make it difficult for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to retain the NA-4 seat, polling on which is scheduled to be held on October 26.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Tuesday, JUI-F provincial chief Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan said that after a series of meetings with the PML-N the leadership, “we have decided to withdraw our candidate, Khalid Waqar Chamkani, in support of the PML-N”.

PML-N provincial chief Amir Muqam, Chamkani and Musazai were also present during the press conference held at JUI-F’s provincial headquarter.

 



“We will contest the election in the form of an alliance,” he said, adding, that the JUI-F enjoyed good terms with the ruling party in the federal government.

Gul Naseeb said the PTI government had destroyed institutions in the province and the damage required at least 10 years to repair. “Instead of bringing a positive change as promised, the PTI ruined the institutions,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Muqam thanked the JUI-F for extending support to their candidate on NA-4 – the National Assembly seat that fell vacant after PTI’s Gulzar Khan passed away.

Gulzar had secured more than 55,000 votes in the 2013 general election. He was followed by PML-N’s Musazai with around 20,000 votes. The JUI-F candidate had secured over 15,000 votes.

With the PML-N and the JUI-F now joining forces, they are highly likely to give the PTI a run for their money.

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) – which had been the second runner-up with more than 16,000 votes – are now demanding of the PTI to support its candidate, especially since Sirajul Haq’s party had been supporting the PTI in both NA-1 and PK-8 by-polls in the province.

Meanwhile, 25 candidates have filed nomination papers for the NA-4 seat. The Awami National Party has won the constituency four times out of the nine elections held there since 1970.