ISLAMABAD: As deadline of submitting nomination papers for presidential elections ends tomorrow (Monday), the opposition parties have failed to make any headway on the matter of bringing a joint presidential candidate.
Dealing a blow to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party on Sunday retracted its decision to withdraw the name of its presidential nominee Aitzaz Ahsan.
PPP’s senior leader Khursheed Shah claimed that PML-N has not expressed any aversion over the name of Aitzaz. On the other hand, PML-N is reportedly insisting on the names of PPP’s Raza Rabbani or Yousuf Raza Gilani as joint opposition candidate.
A day earlier, the All-Parties Conference convened by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) decided to bring forward a joint candidate for the post of the president of Pakistan.
Addressing media after the conference in the resort town of Murree, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that a consensus had been reached on a united candidate for the head of state who will be announced on Sunday.
He said that all parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Majlis-s-Amal (MMA) and Awami National Party (ANP) have agreed to bring forward a united candidate for the post.
However, he said the PPP had requested more time for consultation with their top leadership, and the final announcement will be made on Sunday (today).
The Election Commission of Pakistan has asked the contestants of Presidential Election to submit their nomination papers to presiding officers by Monday (Aug 27).
The Chief Election Commissioner/Returning Officer would conduct the scrutiny of nomination papers at Election Commission Secretariat on Wednesday (August 29) at 10am.
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