JUI-N leader Qari Meharullah addresses press conference in Quetta. PHOTO: EXPRESS
QUETTA: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Nazriyati (JUI-N) on Sunday withdrew its candidate in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announcing support for the ruling party in the by-election in PB-26 Quetta III.
Addressing a joint press conference, JUI-N leaders Qari Abdul Malik and Qari Meharullah said the party would support PTI’s Khaliqdad Noorzai in upcoming by-polls for the provincial assembly seat from Quetta. The party came to the decision after discussions with its key members, they added.
Meharullah alleged that once again the ground had been set for pre-poll rigging. However, he said his party would not let this act to be successful this time.
All set for by-polls in PB-26: commissioner
On the occasion, PTI candidate Noorzai expressed gratitude to the JUI-N for its support. He said some nationalist and religious parties had united for their interests.
Earlier, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) had withdrawn its candidate in support of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) for PB-26.
Opposition Leader Malik Sikandar Advocate and BNP-M’s Malik Sikandar Shahwani said the united opposition was fielding Maulana Wali Muhammad Turabi as joint candidate in the by-election.
He alleged that government machinery was being used in the by-polls. Pre-poll rigging on the part of government would not be acceptable, he added.
As many as 18 candidates will be contesting the by-election in the provincial capital’s constituency.
On December 15, Balochistan Election Commissioner Ghulam Israr Khan said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had set up 49 polling stations — 28 for men, 19 for women and two joint. He added that the number of registered voters in the constituency was 57,675.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ