ISLAMABAD (DNA) – Vote count to elect the 13th president of Pakistan for the next five years is underway in the Senate and the newly elected national and provincial assemblies — together known as the electoral college of Pakistan.

Dr Arif has been declared victorious from the Sindh Assembly where 158 votes were cast out of 163 while 60 members among a total of 61 voted in Balochistan Assembly. Nawab Sanaullah Zehri did not cast his vote.

In Punjab Assembly, 351 votes were cast out of 354 whereas 111 members among a total of 112 participated in the election process in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with the support of its allied parties has fielded Karachi-based Dr Arif Alvi, whereas Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians’ presidential candidate is Aitzaz Ahsan. JUI-Fazl’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman is in the poll arena on the behalf of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and some other opposition groups.

It is believed had the opposition parties been able to field a joint candidate, they would have made a match against PTI’s candidate. However, the PPP, PML-N and other parties failed to sink their differences and this will be to the advantage of Dr Alvi, who is most likely to replace PML-N’s Mamnoon Hussain, whose five-year term ends on September 9.

Unlike the PTI and PPPP, which actively moved around to garner support for their respective candidates, the PML-N and other opposition parties were not seen much enthusiastic to campaign for their candidate.

Sindh Assembly: Aitzaz wins

Out of total of 158 votes, Aitzaz Ahsan bagged 100 votes while PTI candidate Arif Alvi secured 56. Two votes were rejected.

Balochistan Assembly: Arif Alvi wins

PTI candidate Arif Alvi has won from Balochistan securing 45 votes.

Opposition candidate Fazl-ul-Rehman received 15 while PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan bagged zero votes.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Arif Alvi is leading with 78 votes in KP Assembly, Fazl received 26 while Aitzaz got 5 votes

PM arrives

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in the assembly around 03:15pm to cast his vote in the presidential election.

‘Professional and honest’

Minister for Information and Fawad Chaudhry said Arif Alvi is a thorough professional and honest person and his commitment with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and party’s vision is beyond any doubt.

‘Historic election’

Aitzaz Ahsan termed today’s election as historic in Pakistani political history. He was of the view that the election of president is a matter of contentment.

‘Not sent for hibernation’

PTI’s candidate Arif Alvi  was seemed confident of his victory in today’s election. Talking to media persons upon his arrival at the Parliament House, Alvi said this is a start of making of ‘Naya Pakistan’ and my party has not selected me for the office to go in hibernation after being elected.

Alvi said that he would focus equally on all federating units for launching development projects and priorities for provision of basic amenities to masses. “PTI strongly believes in strengthening democracy,” he added.

He said water crisis is looming large and it would priority of the government to conserve water and evolve strategies for meeting the future water needs.