Lawmakers to elect new president today

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers are set to elect a new head of state Tuesday, marking an end to the five-year term of outgoing President Asif Ali Zardari whose party lost May's general elections.

Mamnoon Hussain, a businessman from Karachi and close ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is the most likely successor.

A long serving member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Hussain addressed a party meeting in Islamabad on Monday.

"Describing the office of president as the symbol of federation, the presidential candidate pledged to serve the country and its people in his capacity as president," a statement issued by Sharif's office said.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has boycotted the election, complaining it was not consulted on bringing the date forward from August 6, and its absence means Sharif's candidate is certain to win.

Presidents is elected by the members of four provincial assemblies, and both houses of parliament.

There are two candidates: Hussain and respected, retired Supreme Court
judge Wajihuddin Ahmed nominated by the third largest party of cricket hero
Imran Khan.

Voting will begin at 10:00 am (0500 GMT) and last until 3:00 pm, with the result expected to be announced late on Tuesday.

Constitutional amendments passed by the last PPP government mean that the presidency is again a ceremonial post, a status likely to be cemented by the fact that Hussain has little personal clout.

Sharif won a commanding general election victory in May, which marked the first time a Pakistani civilian government completed a full term in office and handed over to another at the ballot box.