Pak Prez polls will be a three-way contest

Islamabad, Aug.30 : The presidential election to be held in Pakistan next week will be a three-way contest, involving candidates of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Qaid (PML-Q).

Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq, has issued the final list (of candidates) for the Presidential Election to be held on September 6. They are Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP, Mr. Justice Mohammad Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui of the PML-N and Mushahid Hussain Sayyed of the PML-Q.

Election Commission spokesman Kunwar Dilshad told reporters here that the preparations for the poll on September 6 were complete "in priciple." All four Provincial assemblies will be the electoral college. There will be a joint sitting in Parliament House in Islamabad in which Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Qzai Mohammad Farooq, will preside as the Returning Officer," Dilshad added.

He also said thast the Returning Officer would try to ensure that the final result was announced on the same day.

Preliminary reports suggest that Zardari is the frontrunner to win the election, and is main rival will be Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui of the PML-N.

Sayed said on Friday that Zardari should withdraw as a candidate because of questions about his mental health and past corruption charges, none of which was ever proved.

ANI