MARDAN - Former member provincial of ANP of the PK-24 Haji Ahmed Khan Bahadur, who was contesting election as an independent candidate, on Wednesday announced to withdraw in favour of ANP candidate Ali Khan.
He made this announcement while addressing a public meeting at his residence Khaksar House. Former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Haji Yaqoob Khan also addressed the public meeting.
Ahmed Khan Bahadur said that differences were created between him and party leadership. He said that party leaders contacted him and also arranged several meetings with him. He said that at last he decided to withdraw in favour of ANP candidate. He said that he would continue his struggle for his party and would launch campaign for party candidate. Addressing the public meeting, Ameer Haider Hoti thanked Ahmed Khan Bahadur.
He said that Ahmed Khan Bahadur belonged to Khuda-e-Khdmatgar family. Hoti said that he and party leadership were unhappy from his decision of contesting election as an independent candidate.
He said that he appreciated the decision of Ahmed Khan Bahadur. He said that it was not the time of difference because
due to our differences our opponents would gain benefit. He said that all the masses of Mardan should support red flag in the upcoming elections to continue the process of Mardan development and prosperity.  It was first public meeting addressed by Ameer Haider Khan Hoti during his election campaign outside his residence. Sources said the ANP allotted ticket of PK-24 to Ali Khan, son of former PPP MNA Yaqoob Khan who joined ANP instead of former MPA Ahmad Khan Bahadur for contesting the upcoming polls.
Ahmed Khan was unhappy with this decision and office-bearers of nine union councils of ANP were also unhappy with this decision. The angry office-bearers and workers of ANP compelled Ahmed Khan Bahadur to contest upcoming election as an independent candidate. After this Ahmed Khan decided to contest the upcoming election as independent candidate. Sources said that this decision of Ahmed Khan created problems for ANP candidate and due to this party leadership, including Afrasiyab Khattak, Bilour family who has family relation with Ahmed Khan started contact with him.
At last party leadership compelled him to withdraw in favour of ANP candidate.
Sources said that majority of his supporters were unhappy with his decision to withdraw from election.