SWABI: The Awami National Party is pursuing the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal to withdraw its candidate in favour of the party’s nominee for the by-election on PK-44, Swabi-II, scheduled to be held next month.

Sources said Qaumi Watan Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party leaders had declared their support for the ANP candidate on the seat.

However, Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, which had earlier said they were part of Swabi Democratic Alliance, declared they would act according to the advice of the central and provincial leadership.

Usman Sher, the MMA candidate in the July 25 elections, has once again filed nomination papers for the by-poll, and seems in no mood to withdraw from the race.

When contacted, ANP leader Mohammad Ishfaq said efforts to enlist MMA support were continuing, and if the candidate of religious parties alliance withdrew, there would be one-to-one contest between the ANP’s Ghulam Hassan and PTI’s Aqibullah.

“My party’s provincial leadership has assured me they would persuade MMA leaders to withdraw in favour of ANP candidate, making the upcoming contest more interesting,” he said.

He said he had got positive signals from the provincial leadership of MMA and that their candidate was expected to withdraw soon.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has given the PK-44 ticket to Aqibullah Khan, brother of National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar.

Anwar Haqdad, PTI’s district president, said Akhtar Ali and Sattar Khan had withdrawn their nomination papers in favour of Aqibullah, but Shahwali Khan did not.

When contacted, Shahwali said a survey was conducted by the party to know the people’s opinion about who to award the ticket.

He claimed he had greater support than Aqibullah, but despite that the ticket has been awarded to the latter,” he lamented. He said he had no option but to accept the party decision.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2018