By APP,
Islamabad : Security around the National Assembly and the main road leading up to the Parliament House was beefed up on Saturday as legislators voted to elect the country’s new president. Extra police pickets and road blocks were set up on the Constitution Avenue as police checked every vehicle to ensure elaborate security.
Suspected vehicles were stopped and searched by the gun-carrying policemen.
Special passes were issued for the event, that will elect the country’s President after Musharraf resigned on August 18 to avoid impeachment.
The presidential election is a three way contest in which Asif Ali Zardari, PPP’s co-chairperson is most likely to emerge winner.
Pakistan Muslim League of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has fielded a retired judge Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui as its candidate while Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed is candidate of PML (Q).
An Interior Ministry official said that it had been decided to beef up security in the wake of prevailing law and order situation in the country’s tribal regions.
Meanwhile, colourful party banners hung all along the constitution Avenue by supporters of Asif Ali Zardari, with party activists seen greeting each other in anticipation of his victory.
Aside from the local media, a large number of foreign print and electronic media was present inside the Parliament House and outside at the famed ‘Gate No. 1’ – the entry point for parliamentarians – to cover the event, showing special significance the world has for Pakistan in the region.