JUI-F announces support for PML-N candidate for NA-4 by-poll

PESHAWAR: Jamaat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Tuesday announced its support for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s candidate for the by-poll in the city’s NA-4 constituency, scheduled on October 6.

PML-N Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Amir Muqam and JUI-F provincial chief Gul Naseeb Khan made the announcement in a joint press conference at the provincial secretariat.

Muqam thanked JUI-F and Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Sherpao for withdrawing their candidates.

The two also criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan for neglecting the province while continuing to slogan for “change”.

Sources told Geo News that Muqam and Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi met JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and convinced him to support PML-N candidate Nasir Musazai in the by-election and withdraw JUI-F candidate Khalid Waqar.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Humayun Khan, Faisal Karim Kundi and Sardar Ali had also met with Fazl in an attempt to get him to support its candidate Asad Gulzar but failed, source said.

The seat had fell vacant after lawmaker Gulzar Khan of PTI passed away due to a heart ailment.

In the 2013 general elections, Gulzar had won the constituency on the PTI ticket by garnering around 55,000 votes. PML-N’s Nasir Khan Moosazai came in second after getting around 20,000 votes.