ISLAMABAD, (DNA) – Because of the divide that the opposition parties and PPP have so far failed to bridge, Dr Arif Alvi will most likely be elected as the 13th president of Pakistan in the presidential election today. Arrangements at the Parliament House and the four provincial assemblies are in place for the election.

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.