APML Chitral not to boycott elections

CHITRAL, May 3: The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Chitral on Saturday decided not to boycott the elections 2013. The decision was announced at a meeting of the candidates in Chitral on Saturday. It may be noted that on May 2, APML leader Dr Mohammad Amjad told a press conference in Islamabad that after the courts rejected Pervez Musharraf’s nomination papers and appeals in all the four constituencies, the former military ruler had decided to boycott the elections in protest against the revengeful treatment. However, he did not say the APML would take part in the elections in Chitral. But on Saturday, a press release from APML Chitral said Pervez Musharraf had directed the party’s candidates to fully participate in the elections. Former MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin’s son Shahzada Iftikharuddin is contesting the elections for the one National Assembly seat of Chitral. For the two provincial assembly seats of PK-89 and PK-90, another son of the former MNA and ex-MPA Ghulam Mohammad are in the fray. Perevz Musharraf’s announcement that his party would boycott the elections has put these three candidates of the party in Chitral in an awkward position. They have been telling the people in the valley that the NA seat would be vacated for Musharraf who would come to Chitral after acquittal in all the pending cases against him soon. It is uncertain how the ‘Musharraf card’ will work in favour of these three candidates.]]>