KARACHI: As the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ramp up their attempts to garner support ahead of the March 9 presidential elections, it is critical to understand how the country’s head of state is chosen, The News reported on Sunday.
PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari, who has the support of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and others, is running for a second term and will face Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who has been nominated by PTI-backed independent candidates who have since joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as their presidential candidate.
Article 41 of the Constitution states that the president is the country’s head of state and has the duty to “represent the unity of the republic.” Also, the office holder has to be a Muslim, cannot be younger than 45 years of age and has to qualify to be elected a member of the NA.
The presidential election begins when the ECP issues a date for the election. This part of the Election 2024 procedure has already been completed.