Islamabad (August 26, 2018): Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has put his weight behind Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for the upcoming presidential elections, said sources.
According to the sources, PML-N may withdraw its candidates if a consensus is reached to field the former premier for the presidential election that is scheduled to take place on September 4.
Sources add that PML-N is strongly opposed Aitzaz Ahsan’s name for the slot. On the other hand, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has refused to pull Ahsan off the race despite the opposition’s demands to do so.
Apart from Gilani, the PML-N is also willing to support Raza Rabbani for the coveted position. It may be mentioned here that opposition parties are bound to field their candidate for the election by Monday.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of Pakistan had advised the contestants of the Presidential election to submit their nomination papers to presiding officers by Monday(tomorrow).
The candidates can file their nomination papers with presiding officers in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta upto 12 noon.
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The scrutiny of the papers will be carried out on Wednesday next whilst the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers until Thursday next after which the final list will be made public on the same day.
The president is elected by an electoral college comprising members of the Senate, National Assembly and four provincial assemblies. Voting is held through a secret ballot.
Meanwhile, the federal government summoned a joint session of Parliament on September 04, in connection with presidential elections.
Spokesperson for the National Assembly Secretariat said that the joint session of the parliament was convened for the presidential elections. He said the joint session will be kicked off at 10 am on September 04.
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PTI’s Arif Alvi and PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan will contest for the presidential elections.
MNAs and Senator will exercise their democratic right to elected the new president in the session, the spokesperson said and added that NA hall will be used as the polling station.
On August 18, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry had confirmed through social media that PTI Chairman and newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan had nominated Arif Alvi for President of Pakistan.
Incumbent President Mamnoon Hussain’s tenure ends on September 9. Alvi emerged victor from NA-247, Karachi constituency during the July 25 polls.
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Whereas PPP had nominated Aitzaz Ahsan as its presidential candidate. The party chairman and co-chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari, nominated Ahsan for the president’s slot.
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Asif Zardari took Maulana Fazlur Rehman into confidence over the name of Aitzaz Ahsan as Presidential Candidate, Maulana took responsibility to consult with PML-N on the issue.
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