PESHAWAR, Nov 30: The Jamaat-i-Islami (NWFP chapter) on Friday announced its support for the All Parties Democratic Movement’s decision to boycott the general elections and asked its candidates for the national and provincial assembly seats to withdraw their nomination papers.

“The 31 candidates for the National Assembly and 83 for provincial assemblies’ seats have been advised to take back their nomination papers. The modus operandi for withdrawal of nomination papers would be finalised at a provincial executive committee meeting on Monday at the Al-Markaz-e-Islami in Peshawar,” JI provincial secretary-general Shabbir Ahmad Khan said at a news conference.

He said the boycott decision would boost the 61 judges who had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) and the media persons and lawyers who faced torture at the hands of security forces.

Flanked by provincial vice-president Mirajuddin Khan and secretary information Mohammad Iqbal, he said: “Now the APDM, media and lawyers’ movement for restoration of deposed judges will gain momentum. We hope the masses will cooperate in the movement.”

He said the election would be completely boycotted in the NWFP like other parts of the country.