After electing new Prime Minister in June this month, Pakistan is likely to elect new president on August 6.
Islamabad, July 16/Nationalturk – Pakistan is likely to elect new president on August 6, media reports said.
“Presidential elections have been scheduled for August 6 by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and proposal has been sent to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhrudin G Ibrahim in this regard,” Pakistan newspaper Express Tribune reported while quoting sources.
It said Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan approved the date for presidential elections. “According to the official schedule, July 24 will be the last day to submit nomination papers for presidential polls”.
Sources said the nomination papers will be scrutinized till July 26. “The approved and official nominees will be introduced on July 29 and the returning officers for elections will be selected by CEC”.
Quoting sources, the newspaper reported that ECP implemented Article 41 of Pakistan constitution which states the process of electing a president must begin at least two months and elections be conducted a month before the end of President’s term.
“The presidential elections would be held on August 6 while results would be announced on August 7,” sources added.
Pakistan’s current President Asif Ali Zardari’s last day in office is scheduled for September 8, 2013.
Pakistan National Assembly (lower house of parliament), Senate (upper house of parliament) and four provincial assemblies are the electoral college for the election of the President in Pakistan.
A spokesperson of Election Commission of Pakistan said the commission has written to secretaries of all provincial assemblies, National Assembly and the Senate seeking lists of their members. “The members’ list would be used as the voters’ list for the presidential election. The Election Commission has also completed the printing of 500 two-page nomination forms for the polls”.
Zardari won’t contest presidential election for 2nd term: Aide
Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari’s close aide and spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari’s five-year term comes to an end on September 8, 2013. “He won’t contest elections for a second term, but will likely tend to party affairs”.
He, however, rejected media reports and said Zardari will not resign from his office before completion of his five-year tenure.
“Zardari was a democratically elected presidential and will stay till the time stipulated in the constitution. He was presently in Dubai to meet his children from where he will go to London to meet his daughter. He will returned to Pakistan from London,” he said.
Babar denied media report that Zardari will remain in London till the end of his term. “The president will return to Pakistan at all costs and hand over power after completing his tenure”.
Write your comments and thoughts below
Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
[adrotate banner=”46″]
