Pakistani presidential election, 2008

Infobox Election
election_name = Pakistani presidential election, 2008
country = Pakistan
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election = Pakistani presidential election, 2007
previous_year = 2007
next_election =
next_year =
election_date = 6 September 2008

candidate1 = Asif Ali Zardari
party1 = Pakistan Peoples Party
electoral_vote1 = 481

candidate2 = Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui
party2 = Pakistan Muslim League (N)
electoral_vote2 = 153

candidate3 = Mushahid Hussain
party3 = Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
electoral_vote3 = 44

title = President
before_election = Muhammad Mian Soomro
before_party = Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
after_election = Asif Ali Zardari
after_party = Pakistan Peoples PartyAn indirect presidential election was held on 6 September 2008 in Pakistan. [cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24223939-2703,00.html |title=Date set for Pakistan election The Australian |publisher=Theaustralian.news.com.au |date=August 22, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-26] The Electoral College of Pakistan - a joint sitting of the Senate, National Assembly and - elected a new President after the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. [cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=au6PGtmU44E0&refer=home|title=Musharraf Quits as President to Avoid Impeachment (Update2) |date=2008-07-14|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2008-08-18] As required by the constitution, Muhammad Mian Soomro (in his position as Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan) automatically became acting President on 18 August 2008, upon the resignation of Musharraf. [ [http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/2E820D79C90748E0652574A90051AEA4?OpenDocument "Soomro takes over as acting Pak President"] , Press Trust of India, August 18, 2008.] The constitution required that a new President be elected by Parliament within 30 days; Soomro was considered loyal to Musharraf, and it was considered certain that he would be replaced in that election. [Stephen Graham, [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jIE0IUn4WIiaMBpjG8SI_6H5RXzgD92KUF280 "Musharraf's exit poses challenge for Pakistan"] , AFP, August 18, 2008.]

Composition of the Electoral College

The Electoral College of Pakistan is formed by a joint sitting of the six leading political bodies in Pakistan:
* the Senate of Pakistan,
* the National Assembly of Pakistan,
* the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab,
* the Provincial Assembly of Sindh,
* the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan and
* the Provincial Assembly of NWFP

So that each province has an equal vote, all provincial assemblies are given exactly 65 votes in the electoral college. This mean that the each member of the Punjab Assembly has 65/370 = 0.176 votes, each member of the Sindh Assembly has 65/166 = 0.392 votes, each member of the NWFP Assembly has 65/124 = 0.524 votes and each member of the Balochistan Assembly has 65/65 = 1 vote. [This system is detailed in the Constitution of Pakistan [http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/schedules/schedule2.html here.] ]

The political composition of these bodies at the time of the election was:

Candidates

Nominations closed on Tuesday 26 August. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/22/asia/pakistan.php Crisis over judges eases in Pakistan] , "International Herald Tribune", 2008-08-22, accessed on 2009-08-22]
* On 18 August the ruling Pakistan People's Party co-chairmen, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari, said that the next president should come from the PPP as they had the largest number of seats in parliament. [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/18/content_9480772.htm PPP chairman says next Pakistani President to come from his party] , "Xinhua", 2008-08-18, accessed on 2008-08-20]
* On 19 August the ruling coalition discussed the presidency and was reported to have considered five candidates:
**Asif Ali Zardari PPP co-chairman
**Mahmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the Pakhtun-khwa Milli Awami Party
**Aftab Shaban Mirani, former PPP Chief Minister of Sindh
**Fehmida Mirza, PPP speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan from Sindh
**Faryal Talpur, PPP Nazim (mayor) of a city Sindh and sister of Asif Ali Zardari [ [http://www.mywire.com/pubs/AFP/2008/08/19/7300620 Pakistan coalition meets on Musharraf successor] , "Agence France Presse", 2008-08-19, accessed on 2008-08-20]
* On 20 August the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement - which backed Musharraf - said the President should not come from Punjab and backed Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari - who is from Sindh - for president. [ [http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-08-20-voa36.cfm Pakistani Opposition Party Backs PPP's Zardari for President] , "Voice of America", 2008-08-20, accessed on 2008-08-20]
* On 21 August the Pakistan Muslim League (N) was reported to have suggested three people for the presidency: [ [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=abIWj9ZeANcA&refer=india Zardari's Emergence as PPP President Pick Widens Rift] , "Bloomberg", 2008-08-22, accessed on 2008-08-22]
**Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, a lawyer
**Ataullah Mengal, a nationalist leader from Baluchistan, and
**Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
* On 22 August, the PPP officially nominated Zardari as its candidate. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/22/asia/pakistan.php Bhutto's widower will be party's candidate for Pakistan presidency] , "International Herald Tribune", 2008-08-22, accessed on 2008-08-23]
* On 23 August, the PML(N) said it preferred an independent president. [ [http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=1219060365919 Bhuttos Witwer will Nachfolger Musharrafs werden (Bhutto's widower wants to become Musharraf's successor) (German)] , "Der Standard", 2008-08-23, accessed on 2008-08-24] However, PML(N) head Sharif said he would support Zardari if they agreed to reduce the powers of the Presidency and reinstate the judges sacked after the 2007 Pakistani state of emergency [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/08/200882313205219444.html Sharif accepts Zardari on condition] , "Al Jazeera", 2008-08-24, accessed on 2008-08-24]
* On 24 August the Awami National Party said it would support Zardari. [ [http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINSP1392920080824?sp=true Pakistani coalition wrangles over president, judges] , "Reuters", 2008-08-24, accessed on 2008-08-25]
* On 25 August:
** The PML-N pulled out of the coalition government and said it would support Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui for the presidency. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/25/pakistan.politics.coalition/ Sharif withdraws party from Pakistan ruling coalition] , "CNN", 2008-08-25, accessed on 2008-08-25]
** Imran Khan, the former cricketer and leader of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party said Zardari should not become president as he was "such a corrupt man". [ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008