ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari returned to Pakistan on Monday after completing a private foreign trip, just hours ahead of the presidential elections. While not contesting for a second term, Zardari will oversee the election of his successor from his Islamabad office.
Pakistan Set to Elect New President on Tuesday
The country will go to the polls on Tuesday to elect its new President for a five-year term. The newly elected president will assume office on September 8, after Zardari formally steps down—marking a significant moment in Pakistan’s democratic journey.
Zardari Makes History as First President to Complete Full Term
Zardari, who was elected President in 2008, will become the first Pakistani president to complete a full constitutional term and hand over power to a democratically elected successor. He also holds the distinction of being the only president to address Parliament six times—a record under the constitution, which requires one address per parliamentary year.
Zardari Refused to Resign After PPP Defeat
Despite his party’s poor performance in the recent general elections, Zardari refused to resign and committed to completing his full term. Political analysts had speculated that the defeat of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would prompt him to step down. However, Zardari chose to maintain constitutional continuity.
PPP’s Boycott and Presidential Race
Initially, PPP had nominated Senator Raza Rabbani as its presidential candidate. But the party boycotted the polls following the Supreme Court’s decision to reschedule the election to July 30. The move was met with criticism from political observers, who termed the boycott as undemocratic.
With PPP out of the race, the contest is now between:
- Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed of PTI
- Syed Mamnoon Hussain of PML-N
Given the numerical strength of PML-N in the Electoral College, Mamnoon Hussain is widely expected to win the presidency.
