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KARACHI: The Awami National Party (ANP) has announced the withdrawal of its candidate for the upcoming by-elections in NA-249 Karachi in favour of PML-N’s Miftah Ismail.
As per details, the ANP had fielded Haji Aurangzeb Khan Buneri, however, the party withdrew his candidacy after talks with the PML-N on Wednesday.
By-elections in NA-249 Karachi scheduled for April 29 after the seat had fallen vacant after Faisal Vawda of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf resigned from the National Assembly for his Senate seat.
Talking to media in Karachi today, ANP Sindh General Secretary Younis Buneri said his party candidate Haji Aurangzeb Khan dropped out of the electoral race in favour of Ismail.
Buneri said his party’s members were democratic people, “and we are liberated to make our own decisions; however, we are no more with the PDM our fight for democracy will continue.”
He also said his party leadership had decided to support Ismail after consulting the Provincial Advisory Council.
این اے 249 کراچی ضمنی انتخاب۔ اے این پی سند کا مشاورتی اجلاس زیرصدارت قائمقام صوبائی صدر حاجی اورنگزیب بونیری جاری۔ مسلم لیگ سندھ کی قیادت آج باچاخان مرکز کا دورہ کرے گی۔ #ANPSindh | #NA249 pic.twitter.com/agwY87iFTv
— Awami National Party (@ANPMarkaz) April 7, 2021
On this occasion, Aurangzeb, who withdrew his candidacy in favour of Ismail, said that the party was committed to its decisions and hoped that the PML-N would win the poll.
Speaking alongside Buneri, PML-N Ismail welcomed the ANP’s decision to withdraw its candidate in favour of the PML-N. He expressed the hope to work together with the ANP for the betterment of the citizens.
PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had stated that he would consult the party before making a final decision on supporting the PML-N candidate, although didn’t get back to the PML-N, he added.
The PML-N leader alleged that Prime Minister Imran Khan had ruined the economy of Pakistan at all levels.
The development comes a day after the ANP parted ways with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — an anti-government alliance of opposition parties — following the issuance of a show-cause notice to it by PDM general secretary and PML-N senior vice president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
The notice was served to the ANP for its support to the PPP candidate in the Senate opposition leader election.
ANP central vice-president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had said the PDM was not a political party that could issue notices to its members. The party had also expressed its displeasure on the notice and said it was meant to damage ANP’s political status.