Polling for presidential election kicked off Tuesday in Pakistan with three candidates competing for the slot of the 13th president of the country for the next five-year term.
The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party fielded Arif Alvi, Pakistan People’s Party chose Aitzaz Ahsan while joint opposition comprising of other political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has fielded Fazal-ur-Rehman to compete for the seat of the president.
Local analysts believe that the PTI’s candidate, Mr Alvi has fair chances to win as the party has the highest number of seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of the parliament, and also a majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces, besides having a support of the ruling party in Balochistan province.
According to the constitution of Pakistan, members of the Senate, the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies will vote for the post.
Polling stations have been set up in all four provincial assemblies whereas lawmakers from the national assembly and Senate will poll votes in a joint session of parliament in Islamabad.
NAN reports that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday completed preparations for the election.
Polling stations have been set up in all four provincial assemblies in addition to the National Assembly.
Chief election commissioner, Sardar Raza Khan, will serve as the returning Officer.
Outgoing president Mamnoon Hussain’s tenure ends on September 8.
He had declined for re-election to a second -year term.
NAN also reports that the PTI controls the National Assembly and has a majority in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, and has the support of the ruling party in Balochistan. It’s candidate Alvi is in a strong position.
However, the opposition parties are in majority in Senate.
The president of Pakistan is elected in a secret ballot by the provincial and national assemblies.
There are total 706 assembly members who will elect the president.
The ruling party has the highest number of party votes in the electoral college for elections to the office of the president.