Pakistani lawmakers elect new president
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 4 September 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Pakistani lawmakers elect new president, 4 September 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc05352a.html [accessed 20 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Last Updated: September 04, 2018 12:47 GMT
Arif Alvi, presidential candidate from the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf party, makes a victory sign upon arrival at parliament in Islamabad on September 4.
Lawmakers in Pakistan have elected Arif Alvi, a candidate from the ruling Tehrik-e Insaf party (PTI), as the country's new president, a process that is expected to strengthen the grip of the party.
Pakistan's presidency is a largely ceremonial post in which the head of state is indirectly elected by lawmakers from the National Assembly, the Senate, and the country's four provincial assemblies.
All of those legislative assemblies were due to vote for the next president on September 4.
Alvi was expected to easily win the election, which comes after national elections on July 25 and just two weeks after cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan became prime minister.
Alvi, a longtime ally of Khan, faces little challenge from the two other candidates – Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan from the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the opposition Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) party.
Rehman is the joint candidate of five opposition parties – including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been jailed on corruption charges.
Alvi will replace Mamnoon Hussain. who is due to step down from the president's post on September 8 after completing his five-year term in office.
A 2010 constitutional amendment curtailed the powers of Pakistan's presidency, reducing it to a figurehead post.
Khan's PTI formed a government after a controversial victory in elections that were tainted by allegations of intervention by Pakistan's army, a key player in the country's politics.
Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, AP, dpa, and Business-standard.com
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
