The 14th President of Pakistan will be elected tomorrow, March 9, Saturday, with former president Asif Ali Zardari and Mahmood Khan Achakzai in the running. Asif Ali Zardari, as a joint candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), is contesting the presidential election against Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) chief Mahmood Achakzai – a candidate of the Sunni Ittehad Council. Reportedly, Asif Ali Zardari has submitted two nomination papers for the election, one in Islamabad and the other one in Karachi. President Alvi approves appointment of three judges Members of the four provincial assemblies, Senate, and National Assembly will cast their votes in this significant electoral event. As per constitutional provisions, the Chief Election Commissioner will serve as the Returning Officer for the presidential election.

Polling will take place in the National and Provincial Assemblies from 10 am to 4 pm. The electoral process follows the Electoral College system, requiring voters to present their National and Provincial Assembly, as well as Senate, identity cards. Votes will only be considered valid if marked with an approved marker. During the polling, presiding officers will oversee the opening of ballot boxes in the presence of candidates or their representatives. They will scrutinize the ballot papers, reject any invalid votes, and tally the valid ones, sealing them in separate bags. Subsequently, the Presiding Officer will record the results on Form 5 and submit them to the Returning Officer, who will then transmit them to the Chief Election Commissioner for official declaration.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)