PML-N's Khawaja Asif says PTI changed its 'brand' by nominating Achakzai as its presidential candidate
- Achakzai will run in the presidential elections against Asif Zardari
- Bilawal emphasizes “reconciliation” with stakeholders in Balochistan.
- The elections to elect the president of Pakistan will take place on March 9.
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday said that Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the presidential candidate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), cannot be called nationalist if it is representing the former ruling party.
Achakzai, chief of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), has been nominated as the presidential candidate against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, joint candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other political parties. part of the coalition willing to form a government at the Centre.
Achakzai won the National Assembly seat from NA-266 constituency in Balochistan's Kila Abdullah-cum-Chaman, and is backed by jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, who has urged his party's lawmakers to vote by the veteran politician.
According to a notification issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday, presidential elections will be held on March 9, with Zardari as the strongest candidate and supported by several parties in parliament.
Speaking to reporters in Quetta, Bilawal said he has great respect and regard for Achakzai, but “he cannot call himself a nationalist if he is going to be a PTI representative.”
He said the SIC has the right to nominate anyone as its presidential candidate.
The PPP chairman, however, stated that his father, “Asif Zardari, will become the president of the country.”
While his party formed the government in Balochistan with the election of Sarfaraz Bugti as chief minister, Bilawal emphasized “reconciliation” with representatives outside the assemblies and other stakeholders in the conduct of provincial affairs.
He said Bugti would be a strong prime minister compared to the PPP period in Balochistan after the 2008 elections.
“The problems in Sindh and Balochistan are similar. Our complaints are directed at the Centre,” said the young politician, promising to take Quetta's voice to Islamabad.
He also promised to confront terrorists and extremists in the province and resolve the issue of missing Baloch people through the parliamentary committee.
On the other hand, PML-N leader Khawaja Asif said while talking to the media outside Parliament that the PTI changed its “brand” by nominating Achakzai as its presidential candidate.
He said that when you change your brand, you must also change your leader.
“[PTI] I was calling a lot to others [turncoat] but now he is sitting with a gathering of lotas,” he added.
Presidential election
According to the ECP schedule, nomination papers for the presidential elections can be submitted today (Saturday) at noon, while scrutiny of nomination papers will end on March 4.
Candidates who wish to withdraw their nomination papers can do so before March 5. Whereas the final list of candidates will be published on March 6, after which voting will take place.
At least five candidates have filed their nomination papers for the presidential election.
Zardari's nomination papers were filed by PPP leader Farooq H Naek, while PTI-backed SIC leader Latif Khosa filed Achakzai's nomination papers.
Meanwhile, lawyer Asghar Ali Mubarak, independent candidate Waheed Kamal and citizen Abdul Quddus also filed their nomination papers to contest the presidential elections.
