ISLAMABAD: Polling via secret ballot, that commenced at 10 AM today at Parliament here and four Provincial Assemblies to elect the 13th President of Pakistan, will continue till 4 PM sans interval.
Though there are three candidates – PTI’s Dr. Arif Alvi, PPP(P)’s Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and PML (N) supported Maulana Fazlur Rehman – it seems certain that PTI’s candidate will emerge as the President.
However, taking advantage of the secret balloting procedure, many could change loyalties with or without taking any advantage.
Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court is overseeing the polls in the capital where Senators and MNAs are casting their votes.
PTI’s Abdul Aleem Khan was the first to cast his vote at Punjab Assembly Building in Lahore where 354 MPAs will be voting under the supervision of Chief Justice of Lahore High Court.
While 163 MPAs will be casting their votes in Sindh Assembly where Chief Justice of Sindh High Court is supervising the process, 112 MPAs are expected to cast their votes in Peshawar.
Interestingly the first lady Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar is supervising the polling in Quetta where 61 MPAs are expected to cast votes.
Relevant pieces published earlier:
The thirteenth president of Pakistan will be elected today for which the polling will commence at ten in the morning and continue for six hours. Pundits at the helm of affairs are convinced if – due to the loophole of secret balloting – no miracle (in the form of massive horsetrading) happens overnight, PTI’s Arif Alvi will win the race beating PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan and PML-N-supported Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman. Addressing a Presser here today the ADG of ECP has informed that the results would be submitted tomorrow (5th of September) to the Federal Government that will announce it later. (Published on 4th September 2018)
ii) Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) Secretary General Farhat Ullah Babar on Monday said PPP would never withdraw the name of Aitzaz Ahsan for contesting the presidential election. Talking to media persons here after the meeting of PPP parliamentary party meeting, Farhat Ullah Babar said the party was standing on its decision to field veteran Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan for contesting the top slot. The PPP leader urged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), President Shehbaz Sharif, to withdraw the name of their candidate Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman from the race. Farhat Ullah Babar expressed the hope that opposition parties should have only one candidate for the presidential election. “We presented our stance before the JUI-F chief and he also presented his stance about presidential candidature during his meeting with Asif Ali Zardari,” he added. Farhat Ullah Babar claimed that the joint candidate of opposition parties could win the race. Fazl-ur- Rehman had already been asked that Aitzaz Ahsan was the best choice for the post of president. To a question, the PPP leader said Asif Ali Zardari in his meeting with Sardar Akhtar Mengal had requested Balochistan National Party-Mengal Chief Mengal to vote Aitzaz Ahsan.
iii) Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Asad Umar on Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate would win the presidential election today. Talking to media outside the Parliament House, he said PTI had enough votes to elect the president whether opposition remained united or divided. Speaking about the Pakistan Defence Day, to be observed on September 6, he said unity was very important as the nation could contribute more efficiently that way. The nation was united and moving towards prosperity, he added. Replying to a question, he said that electricity theft was an extra burden on the people paying bills. Majority of the people were paying electricity bills but they also had to face extra burden, he added.
