After the schedule for presidential elections was announced, an ordinary citizen in Karachi also submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate in the Sindh High Court.
The independent candidate, Shemim Ahmed, who is a retired employee of Pakistan Steel Mills, said he does not belong to any political party but aims to improve the country’s economy by becoming president.
He questioned the presiding officer, Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, about the decision for independent candidates to run for president, to which the Chief Justice, Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, replied that they have received the necessary forms.
The Chief Justice informed the independent candidate that the forms have been received and further proceedings will be overseen by the returning officer.
It should be noted that for the presidential elections, the ruling coalition’s candidates include Asif Ali Zardari from the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians and Mahmood Khan Achakzai from the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, both of whom are members of the National Assembly.
According to the schedule released by the Election Commission, polling for the presidential elections will take place from 10 am to 4 pm on March 9.
The deadline for submitting nomination papers for the presidential elections was until 12 pm on March 2, with scrutiny taking place on March 4 at 10 am. The papers can be withdrawn until 12 pm on March 5, and the final list of candidates will be announced at 1 pm on the same day.