Answering a question, he said the President will not seek a second term. He said Asif Ali Zardari was elected as President of Pakistan in September 2008 and he would complete his tenure in the second week of September this year. Farhatullah Babar said the government should make the Abbottabad Commission report public and present it in the parliament for discussion. Answering another question, PPP could consider bringing unanimous opposition candidate for presidential election.
According to media reports that President Zardari wants to play active role in politics from the platform of his Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which faced defeat in the May 11 elections, the PPP president Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that the Party has not yet decided to take part in the Presidential elections. Fahim told reporters in Islamabad on Monday that the party will make decision after schedule for Presidential elections is announced. Official sources said the government has sought schedule for the Presidential elections from the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure summoning of the parliament's session for the elections.
President Zardari's tenure is expiring on September 9 and the presidential elections schedule needs to be issued 30 days prior to it. The government and its allied parties and opposition parties have not yet announced their presidential candidates. Press reports suggest that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is pondering to field Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz for the office of the President. Opposition leader in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah hinted last week that efforts are being made to bring a joint presidential candidate from the opposition platform. According to sources, the printing of nomination papers for presidential elections has been completed. The Chief Election Commissioner will perform the duties of returning officer and will scrutinise the nomination papers.