Chitral — Molana Israruddin Al Hilal, a firebrand orator, Khateeb of Bazar Mosque and Tehsil Amir of Jamaat Islami Chitral has announced that he would contest polls as an independent candidate in the 2018 polls. He made this announcement during his Eid sermon at the bazar mosque. Al Hilal said he had a large number of supporters in the Ismaili community as well as from amongst PPP and PTI parties. He made people raise their hands if they promised to support him and all present in the mosque raised their hands. some after the prayers asked him to keep his promise of contesting and not back out later on. Raising of hands in the mosque pledging something and then backing out when the time comes has been a common practice. The announcement has caused a stir in Jamaat Islami ranks, as Molana Al Hilal has been an anchor for them and is sitting Tehsil president at the moment. — Islamuddin, 13 Sep 2016