PML-N head and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday decided to field party loyalist Mamnoon Hussain as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election after completing consultations with leaders of all coalition partners.
In an electoral college of over 500 lawmakers, the PML-N and its allies have sufficient strength to get their joint candidate elected as the future president of the country – an office which is symbolic in terms of authority after the 18th Amendment.
Hussain is serving as senior vice president of the party – a position he claims he will quit after being elected president of the country.
When contacted, Hussain confirmed that he had been nominated the candidate of the ruling party. He said he would file his nomination papers today (Wednesday) as July 24 was the last date for submission of nomination papers in the four provincial capitals and in the federal capital.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the polling will be held on August 6.
A source in the PML-N told Pakistan Today that his party leadership had completed its homework and the leadership of all coalition partners was on board.
The source said Hussain’s nomination was aimed at removing any impressions that the PML-N was a Punjab-based party, rather it hinted that the PML-N chief wanted to capture Sindh keeping in view the “dismal performance” of the PPP in Sindh.
“Since the outgoing president hails from Sindh, the PML-N has decided to replace him with another Sindhi. We want to strengthen our party’s roots in Sindh and installing a Sindhi president is an effort in the same direction. Though he is an urbanite Sindhi, his credentials as a Sindhi cannot be challenged,” the PML-N leader, requesting anonymity, said.
Hussain has also served as Sindh governor for a short period of time in 1998.
Earlier, the PML-N had short listed several names, including Sartaj Aziz, Justice (r) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui and Mamnoon Hussain as candidates for the presidential election.
The nomination of Hussain was almost certain as Siddiqui had been fielded by the PML-N for the same slot in 2008 against President Asif Zardari while Aziz is already serving as a close aide on foreign affairs.
The PML-N had also summoned Hussain from Karachi to Islamabad two days ago and the premier had informed him about his decision to field Hussain for the slot.
Hussain is a veteran PML-N member and remained loyal to the PML-N leadership during the rule of General Pervez Musharraf, but making sure to keep a low profile.