QUETTA: The Balo­chistan Awami Party (BAP) on Friday announced withdrawing its candidate fielded for NA-268 (Chagai-Washuk) in favour of former PPP senator Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hasni who is contesting the election as an independent candidate from the constituency.

BAP president Mir Kamal Khan Alyani made the announcement at a joint press conference with Sardar Hasni. BAP secretary general Manzoor Ahmed Kakar and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.

The PPP has awarded its ticket to Sardar Muhammad Omer Gorgaj for the constituency. Mr Gorgaj had won the 2008 election from the area on the PPP ticket.

Fateh Muhammad Hasni has formed his own group with the name of Al-Fateh Panel and is contesting the poll from NA-268.

Retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch is a PML-N candidate for the constituency, while the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has fielded Muh­ammad Usman Badini. The Balochistan National Party-Mengal has awarded its ticket to Muhammad Hashim Notezai for the seat.

Mr Alyani said that BAP had decided to withdraw its candidate Ejaz Ahmed Sanjrani, who is a younger brother of Senate Chairman Mir Sadiq Sanjrani, to support a leader who could play a role in legislation about Balochistan resources.

He claimed that the Al-Fateh Panel would win the polls and the alliance would not be restricted to elections only but would also continue after the polls were over.

“We will hold talks with other parties also for seat-to-seat adjustments and for forming electoral alliance in other areas of the province,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Hasni thanked the BAP leadership for withdrawing its candidate in favour of the Al-Fateh Panel candidate.

“It is very difficult to withdraw the party’s candidate in favour of an independent candidate,” he said, adding that it was a major decision taken by BAP.

Mir Ejaz Sanjrani, who was present at the press conference, said that he accepted the party’s decision.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2018