The presidential candidates of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) submitted their nomination papers at Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday. PML-N presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain and PPP presidential candidate Senator Raza Rabbani submitted their nomination papers in IHC.
Seven independent candidates including Ejaz Ahmed Dhumki, Mohammad Iqtidar Haider, Professor Waheed Kamal, Ghulam Abbas, Zahoor Mehdi, Imam Ali and Ashfaq Chaudhry also submitted their nomination papers. Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi received the nomination papers.
Mamnoon Hussain was accompanied by senior PML-N leaders including Senator Mushahidullah, Zafar Ali Shah, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Federal Minister Anusha Rahman and others. PPP candidate Raza Rabbani was accompanied by party leaders Syed Khursheed Shah, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Rehman Malik, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Aitzaz Ahsan. Mamnoon Hussain while talking to media after submitting his nomination papers said that his party was holding consultations with all the other parties to elect him as the president.
He further said that he did not want to be a president like Asif Ali Zardari or Ghulam Ishaq Khan. He said that he would resign from the party's basic membership after being elected as president. Mamnoon Hussain said that if he was elected as a president, he would work impartially.
Talking to media Mian Raza Rabbani said it would be historic election which would further strengthen democracy in the country. "We have to strengthen the democratic institutions and rule of law and end corruption from the country," he urged. Speaking on the occasion‚ Aitzaz Ahsan said his party would contact all political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and seek their support for Rabbani.