LAKKI MARWAT, Dec 12: A key leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Pir Dr Mohammad Khalid Raza Zakori, has defected to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) and will contest the general elections on a JUI(F) ticket for NA-27 against PML(Q)’s candidate Humayun Saifullah Khan, a former district nazim.

Mr Zakori, who held the offices of central president of the Ulema and Mashaikh Wing and provincial senior vice president of the PML (Q) and the portfolio of Minister of Auqaf, Hajj, Religious and Minorities Affairs in the NWFP cabinet, took the decision after a meeting with former NWFP Chief Minister Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani in Bannu late on Tuesday night.

The JUI leaders including, Naseer Muhammad Khan and Malik Imran groups, attended the meeting.

They said with the inclusion of Mr Zakori, the JUI(F)’s position would strengthen in the coming elections.

A comprehensive election strategy was chalked out to counter the candidates of the Saifullah-Anwar Kamal Marwat alliance on the national and three provincial assembly seats.