PPP, PML-N likely to field joint presidential candidate

The two main opposition parties in Pakistan, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), are likely to field a joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election in the country next month.

In this regard, an all-party conference chaired by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to take place in Murree on August 25, Geo News quoted sources as saying.

The consensus was reached after PPP leaders met Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and held talks about fielding a joint candidate in the presidential poll, sources added.

The presidential election is scheduled to take place on September 4. Incumbent Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain's five-year term is due to end on September 9.

Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had said that the candidates can file their nomination papers for the polls with the presiding officers situated in Islamabad and in the four provinces of the country by August 27.

The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on August 29 and the final list of the candidates will be published by the country's electoral body on August 30.

The lawmakers will cast their votes in the National Assembly, the lower house of the Pakistan Parliament and the four provincial assemblies (Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) from 10 am to 4 pm (local times) on September 4.

Meanwhile, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has nominated senior leader Arif Alvi for the post of the president.