ISLAMABAD: Presidential elections to choose the new President of Pakistan for next term will be held today. Former President Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the PPP, and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the chairman of the PkMAP, will vie for the office of the president.
Who can vote for president of Pakistan?
The president gets to be elected by the complete electoral college — parliament which comprises the National Assembly, Senate, and the four provincial assemblies. The polling for the president of the country takes place in a special session of parliament in Islamabad in which both MNAs and senators vote for the presidential candidate of their choosing, whereas the four provincial assemblies vote in separate sessions called in their respective houses.
Voting process
As per the Second Schedule, the Election Commission of Pakistan will conduct the presidential polls, with the chief election commissioner (CEC) as the returning officer for the polls. Presiding officers appointed by the Election Commission of Pakistan will preside over the election in parliament and in the provincial assemblies.
Voting will be carried out via secret ballot meaning that each member will vote by marking the ballot papers which will have the names of all the candidates. The vote will then be deposited in a ballot box positioned in front of the presiding officer. The candidate who has secured the largest number of votes will be declared the winning candidate by the CEC. The result of the elections will then be intimated to the federal government, which will declare the winner through a public notification.
