SWABI, Sept 19: Candidates of various political parties have withdrawn from the election contest in each other’s favour to defeat the Awami National Party (ANP) nominees in the district.

In NA-12 (Swabi-I), Mr Shamas of the Swabi Qaumi Mahaz (SQM) pulled out of the contest in favour of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) candidate Mohammad Ali, who in turn withdrew his papers from PF-1 (Swabi-I) in favour of SQM Chairman Dr Mohammad Salim.

In NA-13 (Swabi-II), PML-QA candidate Javed Khan declared to support PML-N candidate Ifthikhar Ahmad Khan, who is jointly fielded by the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP), SQM and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI).

A one-to-one fight between the SQM chief and an ANP candidate for PF-31 has made the situation interesting in the constituency.

In PF-32 (Swabi-II), Khairul Amin of the Pukhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party has withdrawn his papers in favour of ANP candidate Aamir Rehman. In this constituency, Hidayatullah of the PML-N, Mr Shamas of the SQM and Shaukat Ali of the PTI have pulled out of the fight in favour of PPP’s Samiullah.

As far as PF-33 (Swabi-III) is concerned, only five candidates have remained in the contest for the seat. This constituency is a stronghold of the ANP, and its candidate Mukhtiar Ali may win the polls. But SQM candidate Awal Sher Khan, brother-in-law of Mukhtiar Ali and Ali Khan of the PPP, are his strong opponents.

In PF-34 (Swabi-IV), only the covering candidates withdrew their candidatures. MMA candidate Abdul Majid Khan (an ANP dissident), Raees Khan of the ANP, Shaukat Ali of the PML-QA, Abdul Aziz Bacha of the PPP and Sardar Ali of the PPP-S are in the run for the seat.

In PF-35 (Swabi-V), nine candidates are contesting the polls, and the same number of aspirants have given up the contest. Abdul Hafeez Khan of the PPP is a joint candidate of the PML-N and SQM. Nine candidates are in the run for PF-36 (Swabi-VI).