SIC nominates Achakzai as presidential candidate

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has nominated the Pashtun­khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai as their presidential nominee.

The decision was formally announced on Saturday.

He will be up against joint candidate of Asif Ali Zardari, who is a joint candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and other political parties part of the coalition set to form a government in the Centre.

The PKMAP won the NA seat from the NA-266 constituency in Balochistan’s Kila Abdullah-cum-Chaman.

PTI founder Imran Khan has directed his lawmakers in the National Assembly to vote for the veteran politician.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has confirmed the nomination of Achakzai for the presidential poll.

Earlier, a PTI delegation, led by party leader Asad Qaiser, met with Achakzai and Balochistan National Party (Mengal) chief Akhtar Mengal to seek their support in raising the voice against “rigging” in the general elections held last month.

During the meeting, Achakzai extended his party’s support for every political party that works towards the Constitution’s supremacy and empowering the Parliament.

The presidential election is set to take place on March 09, according to a notification issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday.

The nomination papers for the polls can be submitted by noon today (Saturday), while the scrutiny of nomination papers will be completed by March 4.