By-elections: PML-N not to field candidate against slain MPA’s brother

Muqam claims party supports provincial govt in its stance regarding talks with Taliban.

SHERGARH:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has announced it will not field a candidate against slain MPA Imran Khan Mohmand’s brother in the by-election for PK-27 Mardan, scheduled for August 22.

The announcement was made by PML-N’s Central Vice President Amir Muqam after he visited Imran’s family at their residence in Shamilat on Saturday to offer condolences and pay tribute to the former MPA. Mohmand was killed on June 18 in a suicide bomb blast at a funeral in Shergarh which claimed the lives of nearly 37 others. Imran’s brother Jamshed Khan and father Taj Muhammad were also present at the occasion. Talking to journalists, the PML-N leader announced there would be no candidate from the party for the PK-27 Mardan seat.

Discussing the PML-N’s stance on peace talks, Muqam said they supported the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s stance regarding talks with Taliban. “The restoration of peace is our top priority,” he added.

Muqam also said the federal government was dealing with several challenges by adopting a multi-pronged strategy. “Our security forces have rendered unprecedented sacrifices in the war again terrorism and will come out of this conflict by adopting a wise and unanimously agreed strategy.”



Muqam further said the government was making every effort to restore a productive environment for talks with the Taliban, but termed suicide attacks ‘inhumane’. Concluding his speech, he asked the PTI government to live up to the expectations which won it the majority of votes in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2013.