Pakistan's Election Commission today accepted the nomination papers of ruling PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N candidate Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui and PML-Q leader Mushahid Hussain Sayed for the presidential polls, setting the stage for a triangular contest.
Though reports had suggested that the PML-N and PML-Q might raise objections to Zardari's candidature, the leaders of the two parties told Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq that they had nothing against the nomination of the PPP co-chairman.
Though there were a few other candidates in the race, the real contest will be between Zardari, Siddiqui, a former Supreme Court Chief Justice who stepped down after refusing to endorse former President Pervez Musharraf's military coup in 1999, and PML-Q secretary general Sayed.
"We have comfortable numbers to win the presidential election on September 6, when Asif Ali Zardari will become President of Pakistan," PPP leader and Information Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters.
"The PPP's central executive committee and the 160 million people of Pakistan have given him the mandate to accept this important position in the name of (slain PPP chairperson) Benazir Bhutto, and he has accepted this challenge," she said.
Rehman gave a guarded reply to a question regarding the PML-N's return to the ruling coalition, saying the PPP has kept the ministries formerly held by PML-N leaders vacant for a long time.
"The main focus is that second largest party should be part of the government. We will continue to back the PML-N government in Punjab province," she said.
"There is no enmity with the PPP and we have friendly and brotherly ties with them. Even if we don't return to the coalition, we can serve the country and democracy in a better way by sitting in the opposition benches," Senior PML-N leader and former minister Saad Rafique said.
PPP and allies had also filed two nomination papers for Zardari's sister as covering candidate for him. But, she withdrew her papers after Zardari's papers were accepted.
Polling will be held on September six in the two houses of parliament the National Parliament and the Senate and the four provincial assemblies.
