BAJAUR: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and the family of former governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan on Thursday decided to support each other in the April 21 by-elections for a National Assembly and a provincial assembly seat here.

The development came during a meeting between JUI-F leaders and elders of the former governor`s family, according to the spokesman for the JUI-F`s local chapter.

In the meeting, the JUI-F was represented by Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Khar tehsil council chairman Haji Said Badshah, and Mohammad Imran Mahir.

The meeting was attended by JUI-F leaders Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Haji Said Badshah and Mohammad Imran Mahir, Engineer Shaukatullah`s elder son Najeebullah Khan, and other family members.

They decided that Maulana Abdur Rasheed would withdraw her candidacy from NA-8 in favour of Engineer Shaukatullah and Najeebullah Khan, the elder son of the former governor, from PK-22 in support of Mohammad Imran Mahir, the JUI-F-backed independent candidate.

The JUI-F workers and supporters will vote for Engineer Shaukatullah, while Engineer Shaukatullah`s influential family will support Mohammad Imran Mahir in the April 21 by-polls.

Engineer Shaukatullah`s family confirmed the development in a statement, saying the seat adjustment is part of the strategies of both sides to claim electoral victories.

Sources in the JUI-F said Imran Mahir, who was the party`s candidate in the February 8 general ele ctions, was taking part in the April 21 electoral exercise as an independent contestant after JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl Rehman announced the boycott of the April 21 by-polls. Correspondent