SHANGLA: Awami National Party’s local chapter has announced its full support to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate in the coming by-election in PK-23 Shangla-I, scheduled for September 10, where candidates of PML-N and PTI are set to face each other.

ANP district president Saeed Fareen announced the ‘electoral alliance’ with PTI here at his residence in Dandai Bisham on Saturday. PTI candidate Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, former lawmaker Abdul Munim and others were also present on the occasion.

Mr Fareeen said that after a long consultation with the local leadership they rejected the party’s decision of striking an electoral alliance with PML-N in the by-polls in PK-23. He said that on the demand of workers and local leaders they were going to announce electoral alliance with PTI.

“I can’t forget the support of PTI in the local government elections in which PTI members voted to ANP candidate without any greed and we want to see a government lawmaker from the constituency,” he said and added if PML-N candidate was elected he would go to opposition which could not benefit Shangla.

He said that ANP Shangla would not only support PTI, but would also run a campaign for it in the constituency so that the PTI candidate could win the seat.

Shaukat Yousafzai, who is also spokesman of the provincial government, thanked the ANP local leadership for the support in coming election. He said that ANP had secured about 14,000 votes in the general elections and its support would help him in winning the seat with a big margin.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2018