QUETTA: Pakistan People’s Party and Awami National Party said on Saturday that political parties should launch a joint struggle against terrorism and to stabilise democracy in the country.

Nawabzada Lashkari Khan Raisani of PPP and Khudadad Khan of ANP were speaking at a press conference at the Bacha Khan Markaz on Saturday.

The ANP announced withdrawing its candidate Yasin Shah in favour of PPP’s Tahir Mahmood for by-election to be held next month on Balochistan Assembly seat of PB-1, Quetta.

Mr Mahmood is the younger brother of Shafique Ahmed Khan, a member of the Balochistan cabinet who was gunned down on Oct 25.

The two leaders condemned Mr Khan’s murder and appealed to people to elect his younger brother in by-election. They said PPP and ANP had joined hands to strengthen democracy and protect people’s rights.

They expressed the hope that armed forces after gaining success in Malakand division would eliminate terrorism from South Waziristan.

They said that violence or target killings could not solve Balochistan’s problems and negotiation was the only way to achieve that objective.