ECP accepts all three candidates' nominations for presidential election

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza scrutinized nomination papers of all three presidential candidates in Islamabad on Wednesday. There are three candidates in the race to become the president as the PTI has fielded Dr Arif Alvi while the PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan and Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the MMA have filed their nomination papers. Nomination papers of three main contestants were found to be in order. All three candidates appeared before the ECP by 10am bearing their CNICs and assembly cards. Speaking to the journalists after the acceptation of nomination papers, PTI candidate Dr Arif Alvi expressed the confidence that he would be elected with thumping majority. He also thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan who has nominated him as the candidate for president of Pakistan. To a question, he said people have given clear mandate to PTI and Imran Khan in the general elections. To another question, Arif Alvi said that he does not want to comment on Aitzaz Ahsan's statement that the PTI leaders will cast vote to him. On the occasion talking to the journalists, PPP candidate Aitzaz Ahsan said his nomination papers have been accepted by the Chief Election Commissioner. He claimed that the brothers, sisters, daughters and friends of the PTI will vote for him. He also hoped that JUI-F chief Fazur Rehman will withdraw in his favour. On the other hand, the nomination papers of Fazlur Rehman also accepted for the presidential candidate. Fazlur Rehman is backing support of PML-N, ANP, MMA and PkMAP. “I am 100 per cent confident that the PPP will agree to field me as the joint opposition candidate,” Rehman had said. He also requested PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari to withdraw Ahsan in his favour. Meanwhile, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said his party nominated Maulana Fazlur Rehman as presidential candidate as he might be acceptable to PPP as well. However, the election will be held on September 4.