Islamabad: Three are in race for the September 4 presidential election as incumbent Mamnoon Hussain completes his term on September 9.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Aitzaz Ahsan and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Arif Alvi on Monday submitted their nomination papers for the September presidential election.

Aitzaz Ahsan of Pakistan Peoples Party’s

The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) nominated Maulana Fazlur Rehman for the top slot.

The deadlock in opposition continued to persist over the name of Aitzaz Ahsan provided by PPP as the PML-N expressed reservation on his nomination, saying the veteran PPP leader had a strong stance against the party.

Arif Alvi of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced to hold presidential elections on September 4. The nomination papers can befiled with the presiding officers in Islamabad and at the commission’s provincial offices on August 27. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be conducted on August 29, while candidature can be withdrawn on August 30. The list of validated candidates will be published the same day.

Voting for the election will be held in the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies. Speaking to reporters after filing the papers, Aitzaz Ahsan said: “PPP consulted other opposition parties before fielding my name for the post.” He added: “I was not present for the party meeting in which it was decided to field my name as candidate for the election of president.”

Responding to Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Pervaiz Rashid’s reservations over fielding Mr Ahsan, the PPP leader said, “PML-N leaders clarified that this is Rashid’s personal opinion and not a party policy.” The PPP leader said: “I respect Pervaiz Rashid but his demand was unnecessary.”

Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal

To a question, he said that if the opposition remained divided and fielded two candidates for the post of the country’s president then the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) would gain benefit.

PTI’s candidate Dr Arif Alvi pointed out that the candidates of other parties could have shown a positive gesture by withdrawing in favour of PTI’s candidate but they did not do so. He said if elected, he would be the second president of Pakistan belonging to Karachi and it would be an honour for the Sindh province.