As Pakistan grapples with rigging allegations post-general elections, the focus now shifts to the upcoming presidential election set to be conducted by March 9, according to sources from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Incumbent President Dr. Arif Alvi, having completed his five-year term on September 9 last year, continues in office as the country prepares for this crucial electoral process.
The ECP plans to hold the presidential election just two days before the retirement of half of the senators who complete their six-year term. The six-party alliance, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Shehbaz Sharif, has announced Asif Ali Zardari as its consensus candidate for the presidency. Zardari, a former president from 2008 to 2013, is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming polls.
Article 41(4) of the Constitution outlines that the presidential election should be held not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the incumbent president’s term. With the general elections held on February 8, the presidential election is mandated to take place by March 9, coinciding with the Senate’s scheduled retirement.
The upcoming Senate elections, initially due in the first week of March, are likely to be delayed, creating a temporary gap in the upper house’s functionality. This delay is attributed to the recent general elections and is expected to impact the retirement of senators and the subsequent election process.
To ensure a favorable outcome in the presidential election, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has strategically held back two senators from taking the oath in the Sindh Assembly. The formula applied for the president’s election gives a higher weightage to the vote of a senator compared to a member of the Sindh Assembly, providing an advantage to Zardari in the upcoming polls.
Incumbent President Dr. Arif Alvi, who has served an extended term after completing his five-year tenure, is the country’s fourth democratically elected president to complete a full term. The presidential election, a crucial step in the democratic process, will set the tone for Pakistan’s political landscape in the coming years.
By PTI
