In a electoral event, Pakistan’s 14th presidential election is underway, with the national and provincial assemblies, as well as the Senate, participating in the process. The voting, conducted through a secret ballot, will continue until 4 pm.
The main contenders for the presidency are Asif Ali Zardari, a joint candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, supported by the Sunni Ittehad Council.
The current ruling coalition, composed of the PML-N, PPP, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), has thrown its support behind Asif Ali Zardari. The electoral college responsible for electing the president consists of members from the Senate, National Assembly, and the four provincial assemblies.
A joint parliamentary session is taking place at the Islamabad parliament house, where members of the National Assembly and the Senate are exercising their voting rights. Concurrently, provincial assemblies across the country are holding their sessions for the election, with the Election Commission of Pakistan designating all four assemblies as polling stations for this purpose.
The provincial assembly members in Sindh (162), Punjab (353), Balochistan (65), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (115) will collectively contribute to electing the country’s new president. As Asif Ali Zardari enjoys a majority in all assemblies and the Senate, he is poised to secure the presidency for the second time.
Meanwhile, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the presidential candidate backed by the Sunni Ittehad Council, has requested the Election Commission of Pakistan to postpone the election, citing an incomplete electoral college. He emphasized that the presidential election should be delayed until the electoral college is fully constituted to ensure fairness, justice, and equity.
In a separate development, President Arif Alvi received a farewell guard of honor at Aiwan-e-Sadr upon completing his constitutional term. Elected as the 13th president after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s victory in 2018, President Alvi served his term and will now make way for the incoming president determined by the ongoing electoral process.
