PESHAWAR, Sept 3: The joint candidates of Awami National Party (ANP) and People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPP) started their election campaign here on Tuesday.

An announcement was made by four candidates of both the parties for NA:1, PF:1, PF:2 and PF:3 constituencies at a press conference at the residence of central ANP leader, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour.

Talking to newsmen, the joint candidates including Usman Bilour of ANP for NA:1, Syed Ayub Shah for PF:1, Syed Zahir Shah for PF:2 and Bashir Ahmad Bilour for PF:3, vowed for extension of the alliance between ANP and PPP in the post-election period.

Like other parts of the NWFP, ANP and PPP have made seat-to-seat adjustments in Peshawar district for the upcoming polls.

Both the parties have nominated their joint candidates on four national assembly and 11 provincial assembly seats of Peshawar district.

Speaking on the occasion, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said the agreement between ANP and PPP was reached on ideological grounds. He also expressed the hope about continuation of the alliance up to the formation of parliament.

About dissidents of agreement in both the parties who have also filed nomination papers as independent candidates, Ghulam Bilour said efforts were in progress for removing their grievances. He also pledged that the ANP was also trying to placate its dissident members to withdraw their nomination papers. In this regard, he said, a candidate of PF:1 will withdraw his nomination paper in favour of PPP’s candidate, Syed Ayub Shah.

Presenting PPP point of view on the same issue, the party’s provincial information secretary, Yawar Naseer, informed newsmen that presently the membership of agitating party members has been suspended. However, he said, if they didn’t withdraw their nomination and continued their dissension, their basic membership would be suspended.—APP