Islamabad (Staff Report): Pakistan Peoples Party has nominated Aitzaz Ahsan as its presidential candidate.
According to sources, party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and and co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari will make the officil announcement after consultation with other opposition parties.
A day earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf nominated party leader Dr Arif Alvi for the post of president.
On Thursday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a schedule for the presidential election, setting Sept 4 as the day of the ballot.
President Hussain's five-year term is set to expire on September 9.
The president is elected by an electoral college comprising members of the Senate, National Assembly and four provincial assemblies. Voting is held through a secret ballot.
According to the Constitution, the presidential election must be held at least a month prior to the expiry of the incumbent's term, which in this case would have been August 8.
Ordinarily, the presidential election is held either a month after the general election, or at least a month before the expiry of the president's tenure.
Holding a presidential election on Aug 8 was out of the question, however, since neither the National nor the provincial assemblies were functional then.
Schedule for presidential election :
Aug 27, upto 12pm: Filing of nomination papers with presiding officers in Islamabad, and with each PO in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta
Aug 29, at 10am: Scrutiny of nomination papers by Returning Officer in Islamabad
Aug 30, up to 12pm: Withdrawal of candidate before RO in Islamabad
Sept 4, 10am-4pm: Polling day. Elections will take place at Parliament House, Islamabad; Provincial Assembly Building; Lahore, Provincial Assembly Building, Karachi; Provincial Assembly Building, Peshawar; and the Provincial Assembly Building, Quetta.