Dental News Report
ISLAMABAD: With opposition is complete disarray fielding two separate candidates for the September 4 presidential elections, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has provided a more than easy passage for PTI’s Dr Arif Alvi to become the next President of Pakistan.
Division in the opposition ranks would benefit the PTI, which could have faced tough competition had the opposition been united.
The five-year term of President Mamnoon Hussain will expire on September 9. Under the constitution, the election of the next president should be held at least a month before the term completes. Since the electoral college for the election of the president – which is both houses of parliament and the four provincial assemblies – was not complete at the time, the election had to be delayed.
Scrutiny of nomination papers of candidates will be held on August 29 and any of the contestants can withdraw their candidature before the list of candidates is finalised on August 30.
PTI’s nominee for president Dr.Arif Alvi is confident to win the election with a majority and urged the opposition to withdraw candidate in his favour. Talking to media after submitting his nomination papers, Alvi pointed out that candidates of other parties could have shown a positive gesture by withdrawing in favour of the PTI candidate, but they did not. He said that if elected, he would be the second president of Pakistan from Karachi and it would be an honour for Sindh province as well. “But I am Pakistani and love my country and will prove it practically.” He stressed that after coming into power he would focus on major issues such as water, education, health, and most importantly tree plantation, adding the previous governments did nothing to resolve the issues of the people. He said the time has come for all parties to concentrate on matters important for the country and the masses.
