Islamabad: Members of opposition parties criticized the Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) on Monday for their failure to field a joint candidate for the forthcoming presidential election.
Initially,the alliance of opposition parties had decided to nominate a joint candidate for Pakistan’s presidency. However, the PPP remained persistent on Aitzaz Ahsan as its choice for the presidential selection in spite of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) disagreement. Earlier today, the rest of the opposition finally decided on Maulana Fazlur Rahman for the position..
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Dr Arif Alvi as the presidential candidate.
While speaking in a joint press conference, former interior minister and PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal lambasted the PPP for be unable to end the deadlock and hoped that the party will review its verdict and prevent the opposition’s vote from dividing.
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri expressed gratitude to the opposition alliance for suggesting Maulana Fazl for the position, while being disappointed that the PPP showed no support to the opposition’s cause.
Moreover, Ghafoor Haideri said that as per by the opposition’s estimation, Fazl looked in a place to win the presidential polls.
National Party leader Hasil Khan Bizenjo termed PPP’s decision as shocking.
He said, “The way PPP backed out was shocking. All the parties had asked PPP to propose another name.”
Bizenjo also added that it was not possible for PML-N to vote for Aitzaz Ahsan.
The deadline for candidates to put forward their nomination documents for the presidential election finished at noon today.
Voting for the presidential election will take place on September 4.