The victory of former President Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election to be held in Pakistan on Saturday is considered almost certain.
If Zardari wins the elections, he will be the 14th President of Pakistan. The new President of Pakistan will replace the current Dr. Arif Alvi, whose five-year term ended last year.
However, he will continue in office until the new electoral college is formed.
This is how the agreement was made
Zardari, a businessman-turned-politician, is the husband of late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Zardari, 68, co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), is supported by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government, which has the required numbers for a majority.
Zardari may get the presidency as part of a compromise reached after a fractured mandate in the February 8 elections in Pakistan.
According to the agreement, PPP supported PML-N’s candidate for the post of Prime Minister and Maryam Nawaz got the opportunity to form the government in Punjab province. Whereas PML-N supported Zardari for the post of President and Sindh province came as part of PPP.
Will be President for the second time
Zardari has previously served as the President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013 and will also be the first Pakistani citizen to be elected President for the second time. Pashtunkha Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai is challenging Zardari, who is contesting from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
The council has come into prominence after independent candidates backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
assurance of care
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari assured that his father Asif Ali Zardari will take care of the MPs of Punjab the same way he takes care of them.
Addressing members of the PML-N majority Punjab Provincial Assembly, Bilawal said he had come to ask the MPs to vote for his father in the presidential election to be held on March 9.