MINGORA: Jamaat-i-Islami, Swat, on Sunday formally announced support for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate in by-elections on the provincial assembly seat, PK-86, Swat-VII, to be held on April 24.

The JI, a coalition partner in the PTI-led provincial government, had first fielded its candidate Mohammad Ghaffar in the by-polls, but later withdrew his candidature on April 2. After withdrawal of its candidate, the local JI leadership seemed reluctant to openly support the PTI candidate, Dr Haider Ali Khan, which created doubts among workers of the coalition partners.

After 11 days of silence, JI at last came with a clear decision on Sunday when it held a joint press conference with the PTI candidate at the JI office in Mingora city.

JI district chief Fazal Subhan told reporters that after taking the party workers into confidence they decided to support the PTI candidate in the by-elections. He said that they would also run a joint campaign for the candidate.

“We are extending unconditional support to the PTI candidate in order to strengthen our alliance in the province,” he said, adding that they would also like to contest the upcoming local government elections jointly.

He said that their opponent parties had formed a tripartite alliance to challenge the PTI-led government in the province and added that such a situation demanded unity. “We should work together for the development of people and the country,” he maintained.

PTI candidate Haider Ali said that if he won the elections he would keep close liaison with workers of both PTI and JI to ensure development in his constituency.

TRAINED POLICEMEN: Thirty-three police officials resumed their security duty in Swat district after they completed sub-conventional warfare training recently at the Army Counterterrorism Centre, Kharian.

The training, which was imparted by the Pakistan Army trainers, was conducted with the aim to enable the local police to counter any terrorist attack with the use of heavy weapons and other security measures. A total of 125 police officials of the four districts of Malakand division have completed the anti-terrorism training in two phases. —Correspondent