Fact-Check: Had PML-N’s winning candidate withdrawn before elections?
Pakistan Prime: Jamiat Ulma Islam’s chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s video is circulating on social media, in which JUI’s chief can be seen claiming that Pakistan Muslim League – N’s winning candidate in NA-263 Quetta 2, Jamal Shah Kakar, had withdrawn in favour of Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pashtoonkhua Mili Awami Party.
This claim is false. PML – N’s Jamal Shah did not withdraw from NA-263 Quetta 2, but rather announced the withdrawal of his fellow candidate, who was contesting Pashtoonkhua MAP’s chief in NA-266 Kila Abdullah-cum-Chaman, during a press conference in Quetta on January 30.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, during a media talk, claimed that a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League – N, who had withdrawn in favour of Mehmood Khan Achakzai, won the election.
“A candidate of the Muslim League – N, who had withdrawn in favour of Mehmood Khan Achakzai and was sleeping at home, was told that he had won (the elections).” Maulana said this while answering a question by a journalist.
JUI’s chief was referring to Jamal Shah Kakar, PML – N’s candidate contesting elections in NA-263, the national assembly’s seat in Quetta. Maulana shared this in order to strengthen his claim of rigging. Jamal Shah was declared the winner by the returning officer of NA-263 Quetta 2.
What made everyone think that Jamal Shah had withdrawn?
Maulana Fazlur Rehman was not the only person who claimed this. Many social media users, even politicians, have claimed this because of a little confusion.
On January 30, Pakistan Muslim League – N’s candidate, Jamal Shah Kakar, announced during a press conference that their central leadership had decided to withdraw their candidate from NA-266 in favour of Pashtoonkhua MAP’s central chairman, Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
“Mian Nawaz Sharif (PML – N’s chief) has directed us to support Pashtoonkhua Mili Awali Party’s chairman, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who is contesting in NA-266 Kila Abdullah-cum-Chaman. All the voters of the Muslim League – N will support him. We announce to withdraw our candidate in favour of Mahmood Khan Achakzai on NA-266 Kila Abdullah-cum-Chaman.” Jamal Shah made his announcement at the Quetta Press Club.
Jamal Shah himself was contesting in NA-263 Quetta 2, while he announced the withdrawal of PML – N’s candidate in NA-266 Kila Abdullah-cum-Chaman.
In NA-266, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, PMAP’s chief, was declared the winner by the Election Commission of Pakistan.