DNA
MULTAN: Senior politician Javed Hashmi Monday announced stepping out of the election race and withdrawing in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Aamir Dogar, who will contest the February 8 polls from NA-149 constituency.
“I am throwing my political weight behind the Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan and withdrawing from the elections,” Hashmi, who has been a part of the PTI and its arch-rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The seasoned politician was set to contest the polls from Multan’s constituency as an independent candidate, and his withdrawal might help the PTI, whose candidates are also contesting on different symbols after their iconic ‘bat’ symbol was stripped of.
Hashmi had won twice from NA-149 in 2008 on the PML-N’s ticket and in 2013 on the PTI ticket. However, after leaving the PTI, he relinquished the seat and in a by-election in 2014, Dogar defeated him. In 2018 as well, he had decided against running in elections.
