The stage is set for a one-on-one showdown in the upcoming election for the prime minister tomorrow (Sunday), as the nomination papers of PML-N's Shehbaz Sharif and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)-backed PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan have been approved, marking the culmination of the nomination process.
The reservations of the SIC over Shehbaz's nomination were also rejected.
Until the nomination submission deadline closed, only two candidates threw their hats into the ring. Shehbaz Sharif garnered significant support, with eight nomination papers submitted on his behalf by the coalition parties in the upcoming government. On the opposing side, the SIC filed four nomination papers in his name.
His proposers included Abdul Aleem Khan, Khursheed Shah, Khawaja Asif, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, and Attaullah Tarar.
Meanwhile, the delegation of leaders who submitted Omar Ayub’s papers included Amir Dogar, Ali Muhammad Khan, Ayub himself, Asad Qaiser and other members of parliament. His proposers included PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Asad Qaiser, Riaz Fatiana, and Umair Niazi.
The scrutiny of the prime ministerial candidates was held in the National Assembly speaker's chamber. The candidates' proposers and seconders were also present during the process that was underway in the presence of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani was also present.
With the stage now set, all eyes are on tomorrow's election, where the fate of the nation's leadership will be decided through a democratic exercise of voting and representation.