The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has officially declared Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), as the victor of the presidential election, garnering a total of 411 votes. Zardari’s opponent, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the Chairman of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), secured 181 votes in comparison.
In a statement issued by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on behalf of the electoral watchdog, the ECP disclosed that the presidential polls were conducted across various key cities including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, and Islamabad. The results from all five locations were compiled and received at the ECP secretariat.
Highlighting the electoral process, the ECP noted that the total number of seats in the electoral college stood at 1,185, with 92 seats vacant. Consequently, 1,093 voters were eligible to exercise their voting rights. Out of the eligible voters, 1,044 cast their votes, with nine votes deemed invalid, resulting in a total of 1,035 valid votes.
The official Result of Count on Form-VII will be prepared and forwarded to the federal government on the following day after the receipt of the original record from the presiding officers, as per the ECP’s directive.
Meanwhile, outgoing President Dr. Arif Alvi expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Pakistan, asserting confidence in the nation’s promising future.
In response to his defeat, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, backed by the SIC, acknowledged the fairness of the presidential election, highlighting the absence of vote buying or selling. He commended the integrity of the electoral process and expressed appreciation to the PTI leadership for their support during the campaign.
