PESHAWAR, Nov 20: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) candidate Maulana Hameedullah Roghani has withdrawn in favour of the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal's Bakhtiar Mani in NA-35, Malakand, by-election.

A press release issued from the Jamaat-i-Islami's provincial secretariat here on Saturday that Maulana Roghani had announced his support to Mr Mani, the MMA's joint candidate.

Maulana Roghani announced his decision at a press conference in Malakand with NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq and Senator Mohammad Ibrahim Khan.

The minister expressed the hope that the withdrawal would strengthen the position of the MMA candidate.

The by-election is scheduled to be held on Dec 15.

The Pakistan Muslim League and the People's Party Parliamentarians have fielded Saleem Saifullah and Mohammad Hamayun Khan, respectively, in the by-election.