PESHAWAR, July 29: The Qaumi Watan Party here on Monday night decided to support the Pakistan Muslim League-N’s presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain as 120 members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will cast their vote in the presidential election on Tuesday.
Two other coalition partners of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf in the province -- Jamaat-i-Islami and Awami Jamhoori Mahaz Swabi (AJMS) -- have already announced to support the PTI’s candidate Justice (retired) Wajihuddin. The decision of QWP, which is also part of the provincial government, was surprising for many.
“We are in alliance with PTI in the province and not at central level, therefore, we are free to decide national issues in accordance with our party policy,” said Tariq Khan, the spokesman of QWP.
QWP has 10 MPAs in the province whereas its central chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao is an MNA.
Mr Khan said that two days ago joint meeting of the central working committee and provincial cabinet was held on the issue which after threadbare discussion for many hours empowered Aftab Ahmad Sherpao to make the final decision in that regard.
He stated that on Monday night a gathering of the party took place here in which it was finally decided by the chairman that they would support Mamnoon Hussain.
A delegation of PML-N including its presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain had called on Mr Sherpao in Islamabad on Sunday whereas another delegation of PTI including Justice (retired) Wajihuddin met him here on Monday for soliciting his support in the polls.
Polling in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would be held from 10am till 3pm. Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan is the presiding officer here.
Out of the existing 120 MPAs, the strength of PTI is 54. PML-N has 17 members, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F 16, QWP 10, JI 8, PPP and ANP both four each, AJIP five members, All Pakistan Muslim League one member and one is independent MPA in the provincial assembly.
PPP and ANP have already announced boycott of the polls while the lone MPA of APML has also announced to vote for Justice (retired) Wajihuddin.
Meanwhile, Justice (retired) Wajihuddin visited Peshawar on Monday and held separate meetings with leaders of JI, AJIP and QWP.
He told journalists that the voters should cast votes in accordance with their conscience. He stated that all the lawmakers should cast their votes as by abstaining from voting they would benefit the PML-N.
He stated that he had been contesting polls with the aim of changing destiny of the country and especially would give preference to the issues of smaller provinces.
To a query, he said that the decision of PPP to boycott polls was not a right one. He stated that PTI chairman Imran Khan was also favouring to boycott the polls but the party leaders decided contrary to it.
He thanked JI and AJIP for announcing support to his candidature.