Arif Alvi elected new president of Pakistan

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Arif Alvi was elected the 13th president of Pakistan on Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

The vote was held in the parliament in capital Islamabad.

Lawmakers from the Senate, National Assembly and all four provincial assemblies participated in the secret ballot.

Alvi, who was nominated by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its allies, won 353 out of 706 votes, state-run Pakistan Television reported.

The opposition party candidate and religious party alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal head, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, secured 184 votes. Left-wing Pakistan People's Party candidate Aitzaz Ahsan bagged 123 votes.

The Election Commission of Pakistan will announce official results on Wednesday, local media reported.

In a his victory speech, Alvi thanked all lawmakers who voted for him, assuring that he will be president of Pakistan and not his party.

“I assure the nation that now I am president of Pakistan, not of a single party. I will work hard for the betterment of the nation,” Alvi, told reporters.

The new president is expected to take oath on Sept. 9.

In Pakistan, the president is a symbol of federation, head of the state, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but exercises powers upon the recommendations of the prime minister.