By Iftikhar Mashwani
ISLAMABAD: Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was elected the 14th president of Pakistan on Saturday.Zardari, who was the joint candidate of the PPP, PML-N, MQM-P and other coalition parties, defeated Sunni Ittehad Council-backed Mahmood Khan Achakzai in the presidential race. Zardari bags 255 votes in NA, Senate joint session and set to become president for 2nd time
The coalition government’s nominee, Asif Ali Zardari, has received 255 votes in a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate for the presidential election, while SIC-backed Mahmood Khan Achakzai managed just 119 votes, according to unofficial results.
It would be his second stint as president of the country as he remained in the office from 2008 to 2013. He will replace outgoing President Dr Arif Alvi.
JUI-F and JI lawmakers did not participate in the process to elect next president of the country.
Vote Statistics: Of the 398 votes cast in the National Assembly and Senate, Asif Zardari received 255 votes while Achakzai got 119.
In Punjab Assembly, Zardari managed to bag 246 votes, whereas Achakzai received 100 votes.
In 118-member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Achakzai led the race with 91 votes, whereas Zardari received 17 votes; one vote was rejected.
In 65-member Balochistan Assembly, Asif Ali Zardari bagged 47 votes while SIC-backed Achakzai received not a single vote.
In Sindh Assembly, Zardari bagged 151 votes while the SIC candidate received only nine votes.
Breakdown of Electoral Votes
Out of total cast votes, Asif Ali Zardari bagged 411 electoral votes whereas Mahmood Khan Achakzai secured 181 votes.
In National Assembly and Senate, the PPP co-chairman received 255 votes while its rival bagged 119 votes.
Zardari swept strong-hold Sindh Assembly by securing 58 presidential votes, whereas Achakzai received only three votes.
In Punjab Assembly, the ruling alliance’ candidate got 43 presidential votes while SIC-backed nominee got 18 votes.
Achakzai led the race in KP Assembly as he secured 41 presidential votes while Zardari managed to get only 8 votes.
In Balochistan Assembly, Asif Zardari garnered 47 votes while Achakzai did not secure any vote.
Day-long voting :The voting concluded at 4pm and counting began. The voting was held from 10am to 4pm without break.
Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), were vying for the prestigious office.
The first vote for the presidential election was cast by Amer Talal and Abdul Aleem Khan cast the second vote. Two polling booths and two counters have been set up in the National Assembly for the voting process.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari, a joint candidate of the PPP, PML-N, MQM-P and other coalition parties, contested the presidential election against Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) chief Mahmood Achakzai, the candidate of the Sunni Ittehad Council.
Sherry Rehman acted as polling agent for Asif Ali Zardari while Senator Sardar Shafique was the polling agent for Achakzai. Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq acted as presding officer for the election.
How to cast the vote
Voters are required to bring the identity cards issued by the National and provincial assemblies and Senate Secretariat with them. On the ballot paper, the voter will put a cross with a special pencil in front of the name of the candidate of his or her choice.
The voting for the presidential position will be conducted simultaneously in the Senate, National Assembly, and four provincial assemblies. The voting is held through secret ballot.
Similarly, the provincial assemblies will hold their sessions for the election.
As per constitutional provisions, the chief election commissioner serves as the returning officer.
Also Read: MQM-P to vote for Zardari in presidential election: Maqbool Siddiqui
Earlier on Friday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement -Pakistan (MQM-P) said the party would vote PPP-PML-N’s joint candidate Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election.
Speaking to media after a meeting with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the presidential election had a great significance after the election of the prime minister, assuring the PPP of voting for Zardari.
“We will vote for Asif Zardari. Presidential election is an important event after the election of the prime minister. We are determined to vote for Asif Ali Zardari and he would be elected with a historic vote. Democracy will benefit the people. Democratic forces should unite despite differences. Development and construction of Pakistan is our first priority,” he said.
