Zardari elected again as Pakistan’s 14th president

Islamabad:  Pakistan Peoples’ Party  Parliamentary (PPP) President Asif Ali Zardari has once again been elected as president of Pakistan.

He is the 14^th president of the country who had already served in the same office. Asif Ali Zardari secured 255 votes.

The Islamabad High Court Chief Justice, Aamer Farooq, acting as the presiding officer during the presidential election in the National Assembly, officially declared the election outcome.

In the Punjab Assembly, Zardari secured 246 votes while Achakzai received 100 out of the 352 votes cast, with six votes invalidated during the voting process.

Achakzai failed to garner any votes in the Balochistan Assembly, where Zardari garnered 47 votes by 4:25 pm. the BNP-A, JI, and Haq Do Tehreek refrained from participating in the voting.

In the Sindh Assembly, the PPP co-chairman amassed 151 votes, while his rival received nine votes, with one vote rejected. However, Achakzai faced opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, where the SIC holds sway.

In KP, the PkMAP chief secured 91 votes against Zardari's 17 out of the total 109 votes cast. Additionally, nine members of JUI-F boycotted the election, and one vote was rejected by the presiding officer.

The polling occurred in the Senate of Pakistan, the National Assembly, and the four provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, designated as polling stations. A secret ballot was conducted from 10 am to 4 pm.

Zardari, the joint candidate of the coalition parties, garnered support from the Sunni Ittehad Council, while Mahmood Khan Achakzai had their backing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended congratulations to Asif Ali Zardari for winning the presidential elections and assuming the presidency as the 14th president of the country.

Live coverage from Parliament captured lawmakers from a diverse political alliance congratulating Zardari's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, amidst chants of 'Aik Zardari Sab Pey Bhari' (One Zardari outweighs all).