ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties except Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have decided to field Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman for the post of the country’s president, sources said on Monday.
Maulana Fazl will shortly submit his nomination papers in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), sources added. Meanwhile, PPP presidential candidate Aitzaz Ahsan submitted nomination papers at the IHC.
Earlier, opposition parties remained divided over PPP’s decision to nominate Ahsan for president.
The grand alliance of opposition parties met in Murree on Saturday to reach a consensus on a joint candidate for president. However, PPP rejected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s objections over Ahsan and decided to stick to its choice of candidate for the post.
Further, a meeting of leaders of both parties, held in the Parliament lodges late Sunday evening, remained inconclusive.
The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Dr Arif Alvi also submitted nomination papers for the presidential election today.
Scrutiny of Alvi’s nomination papers has been completed and the presiding officer has forwarded them to chief justice of the Sindh High Court.
PTI to benefit if opposition fields two candidates: Ahsan
Speaking to the media after submitting his nomination papers in the IHC, the PPP presidential candidate said that if the opposition remained divided and fielded two candidates for the post of the country’s president then the ruling PTI would benefit.
“PPP consulted other opposition parties before fielding my name for the post,” Ahsan said.
“I was not present for the party meeting in which it was decided to field my name for presidential candidate,” he added.
Responding to PML-N leader Pervaiz Rashid’s reservations over fielding Ahsan, the PPP leader said, “PML-N leaders clarified that this is Rashid’s personal opinion and not party policy.”
“I respect Rashid but felt his demand was unnecessary,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, the PML-N leader had said the party would only consider supporting Ahsan in the presidential election if he visited Adiala jail and apologised to incarcerated former premier Nawaz Sharif.
