KHAR: Ittehad-i-Malkanan Bajaur, an alliance of proadministration elders and tribal chieftains of different tribes in the tribal district, has announced to fully support Jamaat-i-Islami candidates in the upcoming provincial assembly elections in the region.

The elders made the announcement at a press conference heldattheresidenceof alliancechairmanMalikMohammad Ayaz Khan in Barkhlozo area of Mamond tehsil on Wednesday.

Scores of prominent elders and chieftains, including Malik Ayaz Khan, Malik Abdul Aziz Khan, Malik Shahtar Khan, Malik Shaheen Khan, Malik Dawood Khan, Malik Shah Wali Khan and others, shared their views about their decision to support JI candidates in the upcoming PA elections.

They said they had made the decision following an agreement with the party`s local leadership a few days ago. A number of JI leaders and poll candidates, including its tribal districts chief Sardar Khan, Bajaur chapter chief Qari Abdul Majeed, Mohammad Hameed Sufi, PK-101 nominee Sahibzada Haroon Rasheed and PK-102 nomineeSirajuddin Khan were also present on the occasion.

The tribal elders said that according to the agreement they would support the JI candidates in all the three constituencies of Bajaur district, including PK-100, PK-101 and PK-102, in the upcoming PA elections.

The JI leaders said they would take all the elders on board in allocation and use of development funds of their nominees, if elected.

The elders, however, said that JI would support their candidates in the coming local bodies elections across the district.

They dispelled the impression they had decided to join JI. However, answering a question Malik Ayaz Khan, head of the alliance, claimed that most of the elders would like to join JI after the provincial assembly elections.

JI tribal districts chief Sardar Khan, Abdul Majeed and others described the elders`supportas a greatboostforthe party and its poll nominees.