Presidential Election: ECP approves nomination papers of Asif Ali Zardari and Mahmood Khan Achakzai

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), has approved the nomination papers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the presidential elections.

However, the ECP barred the media from the coverage of the scrutiny process of nomination papers filed for the presidential elections slated for March 9.

PPP’s Farooq H Naek while speaking to the media in Islamabad said “No objection was raised on the nomination papers of Asif Ali Zardari.”

On the other hand, PTI’s Amir Dogar, flanked by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Achakzai and Ali Muhammad Khan, also announced that the electoral body has approved the nomination papers of the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) candidate for the office of the head of state.

ECP will publish a list of nominated candidates after the scrutiny of the nomination papers which is to be culminated today.

In the next phase of the Presidential Election, the voting will be held on March 9 from 10 am to 4 pm in the National Assembly and all the provincial assemblies.

According to the Second Schedule, the chief election commissioner will serve as the returning officer for the election whereas presiding officers appointed by the ECP will preside over the presidential election that will see members of the National Assembly, Senate and all four provincial assemblies voting to elect the head of the state.