Shah downplays PML-N reservation over PPP presidential pick
PPP has refused to retract the name of its nominee for the presidential election.
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Opposition parties including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have no reservation over the name of Aitzaz Ahsan for the slot of president.
This was said by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah during his visit to Bilour House in Peshawar. Aitzaz Ahsan, Naveed Qamar and Qamar Zaman Kaira also accompanied Shah and condoled the death of Haroon Bilour.
PPP has refused to retract the name of its nominee for the presidential election after the PML-N expressed reservation on the name of Aitzaz Ahsan.
Chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Sunday contacted PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and told him Asif Ali Zardari has refused to take back the name of Aitzaz Ahsan.
The PML-N, while suggesting the names of Yousuf Raza Gillani and Raza Rabbani, expressed reservation on Ahsan’s nomination, saying the veteran PPP leader had a strong stance against the party.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has already named Arif Alvi as its candidate for the post.
Opposition fails to agree on joint candidate
Earlier, an All Parties Conference (APC) of the grand opposition chaired by Shehbaz Sharif could not reach consensus to bring a joint candidate of the opposition for the elections of the president to be held on September 4.
The meeting, which was attended by the leaders of 11 opposition parties including PPP, JUI-F, Awami National Party (ANP) and Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), continued for around four hours.
During the meeting, the participants expressed grave concerns regarding PPP and complaint of the party’s withdrawal from premier elections and deciding against voting in favour of Shehbaz Sharif.
PML-N leaders Abdul Qadir Baloch, Ameer Muqam, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Sardar Ayaz SAadiq, Ahsam Iqbal among other were present in the meeting.
Yousaf Raza Gillani and Khurshid Shah led the PPP delegation which included Sherry Rehman, Qamar Zaman Kaira and others.
Similarly, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Liaquat Baloch, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi and Maulana Awais Noorani from MMA participated in the APC.
Talking to media after the meeting, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that the opposition parties have agreed to bring a joint candidate of the opposition for the elections of the president to be held on September 4, adding that the name of the candidate will be announced today.
He said that the PPP representatives have sought time till tonight to consult with their top leadership.
The former interior minister said that all the opposition parties have supported the proposal for giving right to vote to overseas Pakistan, but the Election Commission has introduced a system to this effect in haste.
Speaking on the occasion, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said it was need of the time that the opposition parties remain united.
Presidential election schedule
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced to hold presidential elections on September 4.
According to a schedule issued by the ECP, nomination papers can be filed with the presiding officers in Islamabad and at the commission’s provincial offices on August 27.
Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be conducted on August 29, while candidature can be withdrawn by 1200 hours on August 30. The list of validated candidates will be published the same day at 1:00 pm.
Voting for the election will be held in the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies from 10:00am to 4:00pm on September 4.
Who is Aitzaz Ahsan?
Aitzaz Ahsan was born on September 27, 1945 in Murree. His initial education was from Aitchison College and Government College University. He then went to Downing College, Cambridge to study law.
Upon his return from Cambridge, he appeared for and topped the Central Superior Services examination. He started his political career in the 1970s when he held the portfolio of Punjab information planning and development minister during the PPP government in 1970s.
A senior PPP leader, he has served as the minister for law, justice, interior and education in the federal government between 1988 and 1993. Elected to the Senate of Pakistan in 1994, he was successively the leader of the house and the leader of the opposition between the years 1996 and 1999.
He is a senior advocate in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He is also a human rights activist and a founder vice-president of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Married to Bushra Ahsan, he is the father of two daughters and a son.
