BAJAUR: A Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-affiliated candidate on Tuesday withdrew his candidature from the by-election on PK-22 in support of the party’s nominee.

Mian Habib Gul announced the decision during a news conference at the Bajaur Press Club. Accompanied by a group of PTI provincial leaders, including MPA from Khyber district Mohammad Sohail Afridi, MPA Anwarzeb Khan, Insaf Students Federation provincial chief Alama Iqbal Dawar, Eng Khaista Mohammad and local MNA Mubarak Zeb Khan, Habib Gul said that he was withdrawing his candidature in support of PTI nominee Rahatullah Khan in the party’s larger interest.

Mr Gul, who is the cousin of MNA Mubarak Zeb, disclosed that he opted to withdraw from the election race on the request of Mr Zeb after meeting with PTI provincial leaders.

Mr Gul, who was considered among the top four candidates and launched an impressive election campaign, said he was not only withdrawing from the election race in support of Rahatullah, but would also extend his support to the PTI candidate.

Speaking at the presser, MPA Sohail Khan said they came to Bajaur on the directives of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to convince Habib Gul to withdraw his candidature in support of patty candidate Rahatullah Khan to make his position further strong in the by-election on PK-22 scheduled for July 11.

He pointed that it was the third meeting between them and MNA Mubarak Zab to ask him to withdraw Habib Gul from the election in support of the PTI candidate.

The PTI leaders on the occasion thanked MNA Mubarak Zeb and Habib Gul for accepting their request, and expressed the hope that the development would ensure the victory of Rahatullah in the Thursday’s by-election.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2024