Aitzaz expects Fazl to withdraw from presidential race in his favor

ISLAMABAD: PPP-backed presidential candidate Aitzaz Ahsan said “I hope Fazlur Rehman would withdraw from the presidential contest in my favor.”

Aitzaz was speaking to media as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) approved his nomination papers for the presidential elections earlier today. He urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members to do justice while they vote in the assembly.

“It is a vote of conscience, not of any party,” he added.

Referring to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he reiterated that consensus could not be built on a joint opposition candidate,”We have requested Maulana Fazlur Rehman to consider our plea but nothing is finalized yet, though we are anticipating a positive outcome,” he stated.

READ MORE: Maulana Fazl to reach Karachi, meet MQM, GDA leaders today

PTI’s Dr Arif Alvi, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Aitzaz Ahsan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman had filed their nomination papers for the presidential polls on Monday which have been approved by the ECP earlier today.

Following the row between PPP and PML-N, Aitzaz Ahsan submitted his nomination papers as PPP-backed candidate, whereas, the grand alliance of opposition parties, excluding PPP, fielded Maulana Fazlur Rehman for the presidential polls.

The opposition led by Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) remained divided over PPP’s decision to nominate Ahsan for president causing split in the strength of the combined opposition.

With a divided opposition, which is otherwise formidable in numbers, the Presidential Election on September 04, will prove a cakewalk for the PTI candidate, Dr. Arif Alvi, as the opposition votes will be divided between two candidates, PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rahman.