Imran, Shehbaz's nomination papers accepted for PM election
The nomination papers were accepted after the process of scrutiny on Thursday
August 16, 2018
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s President Shehbaz Sharif’s nomination papers have been accepted for the election of prime minister to be held on Friday in the National Assembly.
For the election of the 22nd prime minister of the country, the nomination papers of two Members of the National Assembly have been filed so far, said the NA Secretariat.
The nomination papers were accepted after the process of scrutiny on Thursday. In the nomination papers, the PTI chairman’s proposer is Sheikh Rasheed and seconder is Fakhar Imam.Shehbaz Sharif’s nomination papers were submitted by party leaders Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Doctor Darshan.
The NA session to elect the new prime minister will be held on Friday, 3:30 PM.
The PTI, which emerged as the leading party in the July 25 general elections, appears to be in a comfortable position to elect its chairperson as the next prime minister.
A simple majority of votes from the total strength of the house is required for the election of prime minister.
After distribution of reserved seats for women and minorities, the PTI remains the majority party in the National Assembly with 151 seats. The party commands the support of at least 175 lawmakers, more than 50% of the total 330 MNAs sworn in, and are expected to dominate the election if its lawmakers and all its allied parties vote for Imran Khan.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) with three members, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan with seven members, Balochistan Awami Party with five members, Balochistan National Party-Mengal with four members, three lawmakers of the Grand Democratic Alliance, and one member each from the Awami Muslim League and Jamhoori Watan Party are supporting the PTI.
PTI leader Asad Qaiser received 176 votes in the election for National Assembly speaker on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is the second largest party in the assembly with 81 members and Pakistan People's Party the third largest with 54 lawmakers.
PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif is losing support with the PPP announcing that the party would not vote for him in the election. It is unclear if the MMA and ANP would continue to extend support to the PML-N president. Jamaat-e-Islami which is part of the MMA has announced that it will not vote in the election.
