Summary Polling for the presidential office is scheduled to be held on August 6.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The stage will be set for next month’s presidential election on Wednesday, with the deadline for submission of nomination papers for the top slot expiring at 12 noon.
Although the ruling Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) – which appears to be in a comfortable position to take the presidential chair – has formally nominated former Governor Sindh Mamnoon Hussain as its candidate for the presidential elections.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and BNP-Awami have declared senior PPP leader Senator Raza Rabbani as their joint presidential candidate.
The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) has nominated retired Justice Wajhiuddin for the office.
However, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) decided not to contest for the elections and will be supporting another party s candidate for the post of president.
Keeping in view the position of the electoral college, the ruling party’s nominee is expected to emerge as the winner.
As per the schedule, the scrutiny process will take place on July 26. The candidates will have the option of withdrawal of nomination papers on July 29 and the final list of candidates will also be issued the same day. Polling for the presidential office is scheduled to be held on August 6.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear today a petition submitted by the government to hold presidential poll on July 30 instead of Aug 6.
The application, submitted by PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq, was filed Tuesday after the Election Commission rejected its earlier request.
The government contends that Aug 6 would fall on the 27th of the holy month of Ramazan, and request that, keeping the rest of the schedule intact, polling be held on July 30 to make sure it does not fall during the last 10 days of the holy month.
