The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will release the final list of the nominated candidates participating in the presidential election today (Monday).
According to the schedule of presidential election issued by the Election Commission, the candidates desiring to withdraw from the election can withdraw their nomination papers by approaching the Election Commission of Pakistan till 12.00 noon today (Monday).
The final list of the nominated candidates would be released at 1.00 pm today. According to ECP 43 candidates had filed 71 nomination papers for the presidential election.
Later after scrutiny, the ECP approved the nomination papers of six candidates and declared them eligible for contesting the presidential election, while nomination papers of 37 candidates were rejected on different technical grounds.
The ruling party and its allies have nominated President General Pervez Musharraf as their candidate, while the Senate Chairman, Mohammedmian Soomro and National Assembly Speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain have been fielded as alternatives in the presidential election.
Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPPP)'s president Makhdoom Amin Faheem filed nomination paper as opposition party candidate, while District Nazim of Nawabshah Ms Faryal Talpur as a covering candidate. Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmad with the support of MMA was numerically third major candidate for the presidential election.
The members of the National Assembly and the Senate would exercise their right of franchise in the National Assembly, while the Members of the Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan Assemblies will cast their votes at their respective assemblies, which would serve as five polling stations countrywide for the holding of election for a new President.
The polling for the presidential election will take place on October 6 (Saturday) from 10.00 amto 3.00 pm and the results would be announced on the same day.