1,500 ballot papers printed for presidential election

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed the process of printing of ballot papers for the presidential election scheduled to be held on September 4, ARY News reported.

Sources say 1,500 ballot papers bearing watermark have been printed for the polls. The ballot papers have the names of the three candidates vying for the top slot of President of Pakistan.

The electoral body, meanwhile, has issued necessary directives to presiding officers for ensuring fair election.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Dr Arif Alvi, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Aitzaz Ahsan and Maulana Fazlur Rehaman, fielded by other opposition parties, have been declared to be the final presidential candidates for September 4 polls, according to the commission.

They had filed their nomination papers for the presidential poll earlier this week which were approved after scrutiny.

The opposition led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) failed to field a consensus candidate for president as the PPP nominated Aitzaz Ahsan and other opposition parties fielded Maulana Fazlur Rehman as their candidate.

With a divided opposition, which is otherwise formidable in numbers, the PTI candidate, Dr. Arif Alvi, is assured an easy win as the opposition votes will be divided between two candidates, PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rahman.