The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) has nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the chief of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), as their presidential candidate.
The decision was announced by the SIC today, putting forward Achakzai to compete for the top constitutional post against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who is the joint candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other coalition parties set to form the government at the Centre.
Achakzai emerged victorious in the National Assembly seat from Balochistan’s NA-266 constituency in Kila Abdullah-cum-Chaman.
Even though PTI founder Imran Khan is currently detained in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, he has urged his party’s lawmakers to support the seasoned politician.
Confirming the nomination, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan acknowledged Achakzai as the presidential nominee.
Earlier this week, a PTI delegation, led by party leader Asad Qaiser, met with Achakzai and Balochistan National Party (Mengal) chief Akhtar Mengal to seek their backing in the fight against alleged “rigging” in the recent general elections.
During the meeting, Achakzai expressed his party’s support for any political entity striving for the supremacy of the Constitution and the empowerment of Parliament.
Presidential Election
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set the presidential election for March 9, according to a recent notification.
As per the schedule, nomination papers for the presidential election can be submitted until noon today (Saturday), with the scrutiny of nominations concluding by March 4.
Candidates have until March 5 to withdraw their nomination papers, after which the final list of candidates will be published on March 6, paving the way for polling.
Five candidates have already submitted their nomination papers for the presidential election.
PPP leader Farooq H Naek submitted Zardari’s nomination papers, while PTI-backed SIC leader Latif Khosa filed Achakzai’s papers.
Additionally, Advocate Asghar Ali Mubarak, independent candidate Waheed Kamal, and citizen Abdul Quddus have also submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming polls.
Term in Office for President Alvi
Dr. Arif Alvi became the fourth democratically elected president to complete a five-year term on September 8, 2023. However, due to the absence of the required electoral college for electing a president, he continues to hold office.
As per Article 44(1) of the Constitution, “the president shall hold office for a period of five years from the day he takes charge of office, but he shall remain in office until his successor is elected”.
Following the election, the oath-taking ceremony for the president’s office will be conducted with Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa as the administrator.
