Fazl ur Rehman to constest against Alvi

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman has emerged as joint candidate of the United Opposition sans Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the office of the President of Pakistan challenging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Dr Arif Alvi.

Former deputy chairman of Senate and senior leader of the JUI-F Maulana Ghafoor Haideri on Monday submitted Fazl’s nomination papers just moments before the time for submission of papers expired.

Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi, who is also the returning officer (RO) for the presidential candidate, received Maulana Fazl ur Rehman’s nomination papers.

Senior leaders of the opposition parties in the National Assembly and Senate, Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N), JUI-F, Awami National Party (ANP), National Party, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Jamaate-Islami (JI) and others were present on the occasion.

None turned up

PPP has nominated its own candidate for the same post and its senior member Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan earlier in the day submitted his papers.

However, he was flanked by only the leaders of his own party and none of the opposition alliance parties turned up at the IHC to escort him to appear before the returning officer.

Naming Fazl as its joint candidate is being seen PMLN strategy to gain maximum number of votes in the presidential election which is scheduled for September 4, 2018.

PML-N leader Ameer

Muqam is Fazl’s covering candidate.

Speaking to reporters after submitting his nomination papers, senior leader of the PML-N and former Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the only objection raised against Aitzaz’s candidature was that the PPP did not consult other opposition parties before nominating him.