ECP clears Zardari, Achakzai for presidential vote

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday accepted the nomination papers of Asif Ali Zardari and Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the upcoming presidential elections.

Asif Ali Zardari is the nominee of the PPP and PMLN while Mehmood Khan Achakzai is the candidate of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). The final list of eligible candidates will be released today (Tuesday) and the candidates will have the rights to withdraw from the contest until March 6.

The ECP recently designated five presiding officers to oversee the presidential elections in Islamabad and the four provincial capitals. Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday summoned a joint session of Parliament on March 9 (Saturday) to elect the new president of the country.

While the speakers of provincial assemblies will call the sittings of their respective provincial assemblies for voting in the presidential elections on March 9. Meanwhile, the Isthekam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and PMLQ gave their full support to Pakistan people’s Party to vote to Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential elections while the MQM-P sought time to reply after consultation with its Rabita Committee.

The PPP and PMLN delegation comprising former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar and Syed Khursheed Shah from the PPP and Senator Ishaq Dar from the PMLN held a meeting with IPP President Aleem Khan, PMLQ Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Convener MQM-P Dr Maqbool Khalid here on Monday for seeking their support in presidential elections.

In a meeting with PPP and PMLN delegation, Aleem Khan assured them of the complete support to former president Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential elections. Talking with the media after the meeting, Aleem Khan said his party would vote to former president Asif Ali Zardari in Punjab Assembly and National Assembly.

He said it was the crucial time for the country and all of them had to stand united to bring the country back on the path of development. “The elections are past and now it’s time to provide relief to the people,” he said.

He said the opposition parties had the right to point out the mistakes of the government but national interest should be put first. He said those who had the right to form the government had formed the government.

He said the result of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was accepted by all and even it was accepted by those who objected to the result of other provinces. “If there is rigging, why it has happened except for one province, “he questioned.

He said they should have courage to say that the mandate they got in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa got through rigging. Former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani thanked the IPP’s President Aleem Khan for their complete support in the presidential elections and announcement of vote for Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential elections.

After the meeting with IPP President Aleem Khan, the PPP and PMlN delegation visited the residence of President PMLQ Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain where they met Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Secretary General PMLQ Tariq Bashir Cheema and Senior Vice President Ms Farrakh Khan and sough the PMLQ support for Asif Ali Zardari in presidential elections.

Talking with the media after the meeting, senior leader of the PMLQ Chaudhry Salik Hussain announced that PMLQ would give its complete support and vote to Asif Ali Zardari in presidential elections. “We will go togther and as no single party could bring the country out of crisis,” he said.

Former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani thanked Chaudhry Salik Hussain for their support in the presidential elections.

Meanwhile, the PPP and PMLN delegation held a meeting MQM-Pakistan Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to seek the support of the MQM for Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential elections.

After the meeting, in a talk with media, MQM Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the PPP sough the MQM support for Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential elections and they told them that the Rabita Committee meeting of the MQM-P would be held on Tuesday on the issue of presidential elections and would reply on it by Tuesday after the consultations.

He said, “We have discussed the way forward. Now PPP and PMLN delegation has asked for support and we have a history of reconciliation. The Rabita committee will decide to vote for Asif Ali Zardari and whatever decision was taken in the meeting in Karachi, it will be communicated to them,” he said.