Arif Alvi elected president of Pakistan: unofficial results

Tehreek-e-Insaf nominee Dr. Arif Alvi was elected president of Pakistan on Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

The president is elected through a secret ballot by lawmakers from the Senate, National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies.

Three candidates are running for the office of the president. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and its allies nominated Dr. Arif Alvi, while Pakistan People Party’s candidate is Aitzaz Ahsan. Other opposition parties have nominated Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s President Maulana Fazlu Rehman as their candidate.

The opposition parties failed to reach a consensus to field a joint candidate despite several meetings between their leaders on Monday.

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

The incumbent President Mamnoon Hussain’s five-year term will end on Sept. 9.