Election 2024: Abrarul Haq withdraws from election due to nomination paper delays

WEB DESK: Independent candidate and former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) member Abrarul Haq announced his withdrawal from the upcoming general election slated for February 8.

Talking exclusively with Hum News, Haq cited difficulties in obtaining his nomination papers from the returning officer (RO) on time as the primary reason for his withdrawl.

Haq had been contesting as an independent candidate from the NA-117 constituency in Narowal, vying for a seat in the national assembly.

Haq’s withdrawal leaves the electoral field open for Aleem Khan as the main contender in the constituency. Aleem Khan is a member of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party founded by Jahangir Tareen.

Having joined PTI in December 2011, Haq had previously contested elections from the same constituency on a PTI ticket in the 2013 and 2018 general election. Despite garnering significant votes, he was lost the elections both times to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Ahsan Iqbal.

Haq left PTI in May 2023 and opted to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 general election.