TIMERGARA, Dec 29: The basic membership of a Jamaat-i-Islami member, who is contesting elections as an independent candidate for the PF-94, has been suspended, party sources told Dawn here on Saturday.

The sources said Mufti Kifayatullah had declined to abide by party’s decision of boycotting the elections.

The dissident member had been issued a notice to clear his position and urged to withdraw nomination papers but he failed to do so, the sources added.

Mufti Kifayatullah was the only member of the JI in Dir Lower who had filed nomination papers as an independent candidate.

When contacted, Mufti Kifayatullah told Dawn that he was not in favour of boycotting the elections and could not leave the field open for other parties.