Presidential election: Shahbaz to chair MPC of joint opposition today

In a bid to develop consensus among the opposition parties to jointly field a candidate in the election of president, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-sponsored multi-party conference (MPC) is being held at Murree on Saturday (today). The PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif will chair the moot that is expected to be attended by the representatives of different opposition parties including the PML-N, PPP, ANP, JUI-F, JI and others.
The presidential election is scheduled to be held on September 4. The ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has named MNA from Karachi Dr Arif Alvi as its candidate while the PPP has named Aitzaz Ahsan as its candidate. However, the PML-N has expressed reservations over Aitzaz's nomination who had spoken against former prime minister and supreme leader of PML-N Nawaz Sharif and his wife Kulsoom's ailment.
There were also strong reservations in the PML-N ranks over the PPP decision of not voting for Shahbaz Sharif in the race for prime minister's office.
The PML-N, sources claimed has proposed the name of Abdul Qadir Balouch for the office of president. The sources added that the PML-N may consider the name of Senator Raza Rabbani for the office of President.
If the opposition remained divided on launching a joint candidate, it would give a free hand to the ruling PTI to install its nominee as president, political analysts believe. As per schedule of presidential election, nomination papers for the election of president will be filed with presiding officers in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta on Monday.
Scrutiny of nomination papers by Returning Officer in Islamabad will be held on Wednesday while candidates can withdraw their nomination papers in the federal capital till Thursday. Members of Senate, National Assembly and four provincial assemblies will vote for the election of next president on September 4. Polling will commence from 10am and continue till 4pm at the Parliament House and the provincial assemblies in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta.