The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday accepted the nomination papers of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, a joint candidate of allied parties in the National Assembly in the election for the coveted post of president. PPP leader Farooq H. Naek, who went to the commission’s office for scrutiny of the nomination papers, said that nobody raised any objection to Asif Zardari’s candidature. Later speaking to the media, Naek said that Asif Zardari enjoyed the support of required number of national and provincial lawmakers and expressed the optimism that he would go on to become the country’s president for the second time. The odds are in favour of Asif Zardari despite Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) strong candidate against the PPP leader. The SIC had nominated veteran politician from Balochistan, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) President Mahmood Khan Achakzai, as their candidate for the presidential election. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election winners had now joined the SIC.

Though the numbers are in favour of former president Asif Zardari but the mere nomination of the seasoned Baloch politician has turned the race quite interesting. PTI founder chairman Imran Khan has endorsed Mahmood Khan Achakzai as their nominee for the constitutional petition. On March 5, candidates successfully nominated will be able to retrieve their papers, and the ECP will simultaneously release the final list of presidential contenders. Voting for the presidential election is scheduled to take place on March 9 at the Parliament House and the four provincial assemblies. The chief justices of the high courts will serve as the presiding officers for the presidential election. IHC Chief Justice Amer Farooq has assumed the role of presiding officer at the Parliament House in Islamabad for the upcoming election. It is pertinent to note that Achakzai won the National Assembly seat from NA-266 in Chaman.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)