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ATTOCK, Aug 3: Independent candidate for by-polls in NA-59, Attock III, Abdul Qadoos Awan, on Tuesday withdrew from the contest in favour of the ARD candidate, Dr Sikandar Hayat.
The announcement to this effect was made by Mr Awan in a simple ceremony held at the residence of Dr Sikandar Hayat at Hassanabdal. A large number of ARD workers and leaders were present on the occasion.
Mr Awan, speaking on the occasion, said he withdrew form the contest voluntarily only to strengthen the position of ARD candidate against the PML candidate, Shaukat Aziz.
He expressed the hope that Dr Sikandar would win the by- polls with the support of local voters. Dr Sikandar Hayat thanked Mr Awan for reposing confidence in him against Shaukat Aziz.
After the withdraw of Abdul Qadoos, now seven candidates are in the running for NA-59, Attock III. They are Shaukat Aziz (PML), Dr Sikandar Hayat (ARD), Ghulam Abbass, Engineer Malik Jameel of Pakistan Communist Party, Dr Nathian Gull, Chaudhry Ishtiaq Minhas and Dr Nawab Amber Shazada, independent candidate.
SECURITY TIGHTENED: Finance minister Shaukat Aziz did not participate in a public meeting scheduled at Jarikas village of Attock district on Monday due to security reasons, sources said.
They said the government had restricted the participation of Mr Aziz in public meetings being arranged as part of his electioneering due to security concerns in the wake of recent attempt on his life.
The sources said the step had been taken on the advice of the interior ministry after Al Qaeda reportedly claimed responsibility of the terrorist attock on Shaukat Aziz on the internet, and also warned about more attacks in future.
However, the election campaign and scheduled public meetings of Mr Aziz will be continued in NA-59 under the supervision of PML leaders, including District Nazim Maj (retired) Tahir Sadiq Khan, Punjab minister Col (retired) Malik Mohammad Anwar, MNAs Malik Amin Aslam, Malik Allahyar Khan and Umer Ayub.
The sources said Mr Aziz would participate in the last public meeting to be held before the by-polls at Fateh Jang on August 15. Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and other PML leaders will be also participate in the meeting.
Meanwhile, the joint crackdown of police and other law-enforcement agencies on the activists of banned religious organization continued for the fifth consecutive day.
