Pak to hold presidential election on September 6

Islamabad, July 16:

will hold the next presidential election on September 6, two days before the end of the term of incumbent President

.

[Read: Pak presidential election on August 6]

Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ibrahim approved the proposed date for the poll, officials were quoted as saying by the media on Tuesday.

Zardari, currently on a private visit to Dubai and London, will not contest the next presidential election, his spokesman Farhatullah Babar said yesterday. Babar also scotched rumours that Zardari will not return to Pakistan before the end of his term.

According to the current strength of political parties in the national and provincial assemblies, the nominee of the ruling PML-N of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will easily win the election.

The four provincial assemblies and the two houses of parliament form the electoral college for the presidential poll and voting is held in the assemblies.

According to the official schedule, the last day for submitting nomination papers for the presidential poll will be July 24.

The nominations will be scrutinised on July 26 and the approved nominees will be announced on July 29.

The Election commission has asked the National Assembly or lower house of parliament, the Senate or upper house and four provincial assemblies to provide a list of members for the poll.

Zardari replaced former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2008 and his five-year tenure will end on September 8.

So far, none of the political parties have named their candidates.

PTI