PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced that his father, Asif Zardari, secured 411 votes in the recent presidential elections, surpassing his rival Mehmood Khan Achakzai, backed by the SIC and PTI independents, who managed only 181 votes.
Breaking down the vote count, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari highlighted that his father received widespread support, garnering 255 votes from the National Assembly and Senate combined, 151 from the Sindh Assembly, 246 in Punjab, 17 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 47 in the Balochistan Assembly.
Voting concluded at 4 pm in the National Assembly and all provincial assemblies, with the subsequent counting process lasting over an hour.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Asif Ali Zardari on his re-election for a second term as President of Pakistan.
The prime minister emphasized that this mandate reflected the confidence of the National Assembly, Senate, and all four provincial assemblies in Asif Ali Zardari’s leadership.
In a press release from the PM Office Media Wing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed Asif Ali Zardari as a symbol of the federation’s strength.
Expressing optimism about Zardari’s commitment to upholding democratic norms, the prime minister anticipated that the President would dutifully perform his constitutional responsibilities.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti credited President-elect Asif Ali Zardari for his pivotal role in advancing the 18th Amendment and the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
Speaking alongside PPP leader Sanaullah Zehri, CM Bugti highlighted the positive impact of the NFC award on Balochistan, citing increased employment opportunities and development funds.
Bugti expressed confidence that President Zardari, from the highest office, would foster unity among the federation’s units. He announced Zardari’s upcoming visit to Balochistan to gain firsthand insights into provincial challenges, further emphasizing the PPP’s commitment to addressing regional concerns.