Pakistan’s lawmakers have begun voting for the country’s new president.
Mamnoon Hussain, a textile businessman and a close ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is expected to emerge as the winner in Tuesday’s election to replace Asif Ali Zardari, whose five-year term is expiring.
Pakistan’s presidency is a ceremonial head of state. Prime Minister Sharif will remain the most powerful figure in the civilian government.
Controversy broke out last week when the Supreme Court agreed to a request by Mr. Sharif’s ruling PML-N party to move forward the election from August 6 because some lawmakers wanted to travel to Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage during the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Zardari’s PPP party said it would boycott the presidential election in response to the court’s ruling. Pakistan’s president is not elected by popular vote but by the two-house federal parliament and four provincial assemblies.
Zardari is the first president in Pakistan’s 66-year existence to complete his entire term.
