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Opposition To Announce Joint Presidential Candidate Today

Murree (August 26, 2018): The PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that opposition parties have agreed to field a joint candidate in the forthcoming presidential election as a four-member committee has been set up that will finalize three contenders for the post.

He made the decision was made at a joint opposition leaders press conference after the end of the meeting which held in Murree.

“PPP has acquired more time for consultation with senior leadership, however, the final name of the candidate for a presidential candidate will be announced today,” Iqbal said.

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He alleged that the opposition parties leaders are being threatened for dire consequences and they were told to stay away from the joint opposition.

“ANP’s leader Iftikhar Hussain threaten and he has been told dire consequences if he would join the opposition,” Iqbal said adding that opposition will soon design strategy in this connection.

Speaking on behalf of the opposition parties, Iqbal, while supporting the right to vote for overseas Pakistanis, nonetheless criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan for trying to implement the electronic polling process ‘in haste’ before the upcoming by-polls.

“The election commission’s online system already failed during the general elections. We therefore disagree with the hasty implementation of the [electronic] system of voting for overseas Pakistanis,” Iqbal said.

Earlier, sources said that a panel has been constituted for presenting three names to opposition parties for candidacy for the office of the president. Led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the body would have one member each from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), while one neutral member would also be part of the panel.The panel would shortlist three names by Sunday (today), after which opposition parties will pick the final name, the sources added.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif is chairing the All Parties Conference (APC) — the alliance of opposition parties which includes Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, Awami National Party, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), National Party, Qaumi Watan Party and Pak Sarzameen Party.

PkMAP leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai is not attending the meeting owing to prior commitments, however, he has said he will support APC’s decisions.

According to sources, PML-N will propose fielding a joint opposition candidate instead of Aitzaz Ahsan, who has been nominated by the PPP to contest the presidential election to be held on September 4.Consultations will also be held over fielding a joint opposition candidate for Senate chairman and opposition leader, sources added.

Further, sources said the Pakistan Alliance will consider holding protests outside Parliament over alleged rigging in the July 25 polls.

PML-N will also seek the support of the allied opposition parties for its “Justice for Nawaz Sharif” movement, sources said.

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