Justice Wajihuddin. PHOTO: AFP
The announcement was made just hours after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) announced it will boycott the elections.
In a statement issued here, Baloch said that JI has made this decision after deliberations with its parliamentary party and its Khyber Pakhtunkhawa wing.
The JI Secretary General informed the press that Tehrik-e-Insaf leaders Arif Alvi, Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed contacted the JI leadership in this regard, adding that the PPP, too, telephoned the JI leadership to try to get them to boycott the polls.
Liaquat Baloch intimated that the JI had tried to bring a combined candidate from all opposition parties, a move that didn't work on account of PPP's one-sided boycott. Baloch condemned the boycott saying that the PPP did not take JI into confidence.
While announcing his party's support for PTI's candidate, Baloch added that Justice (r) Wajih had also been the JI's presidential candidate in 2008.
Ahmed's nomination papers were submitted by PTI MNA Arif Alvi on his behalf on July 26.
The presidential election has been rescheduled to July 29 after Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) asked Supreme Court to review the date earlier set by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
PTI candidate - Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed
Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed is a retired senior judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a former member of Pakistan’s higher judiciary and the central figure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Born on December 1, 1938 to the highly-reputed Chief Justice of West Pakistan High Court and Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Waheeduddin Ahmed in Karachi, Justice Ahmed was enrolled as an advocate of the Sindh High Court and served as a lecturer at the SM Law College for bachelor’s and master’s level classes. He was consecutively elected unopposed as president of Sindh High Court Bar Association in 1977 and 1978 and was also elected President of Karachi Bar Association in 1981.
He was appointed as the Advocate General Sindh on 19 November 1986 and elevated to the bench of the Sindh High Court as a judge in 1988. He became the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court from November 5, 1997 to May 4, 1998 and moved to the Supreme Court in 1998.
He joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on January 10, 2011.
He resigned from the Supreme Court of Pakistan instead of taking oath of the office according to Pervez Musharraf’s Provisional Constitutional Order. He has also been nominated by the lawyers community as a presidential candidate against Pervez Musharraf in 2007 elections in Pakistan.
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I congratulate PTI for participating in the presidential elections just to legitimate these elections and showing how much tough opposition are they or Mr. Wajih-ud-Din wants to become in the news for couple of days. What they have gained? matter of shame for the self claimed most educated and principled party.
The only party having principles to follow in politics is JI. JI supported Justice Wajihuddin in 2008 as well. JI indeed has opportunity just like JUI and MQM to get benefits in return to its support to PMLN Presidential candidate, but they wont do that.
@ Haris Chaudhry You are spot on!!! PTI Punjab President, Chaudhry Ijaz has been an active Jamatia and is son-inlaw of former Ameer JI Mian Tufail Muhammad. Not to mention that he is a bank defaulter too http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pakistan/167793-PTIs-Punjab-president-turns-out-to-be-bank-default PTI's parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly, Mian Mahmood ur Rasheed has been MPA on Jamat-e-Islami seat during 1988 to 1990. This time around this "youth" has returned to Assembly on PTI ticket. Similarly, Dr Arif Alvi, a close friend of PTI's Lifetime Chairman Imran Khan and MNA from Karachi has also been Jamatia. These "youth" of over 60 years age also tell a lot about PTI's dramas.
@Baloch Insafian: Tell you what, this is such a disappointment, "Happy that PTI is still itching you guys! " ---- you mean PTI is really done and has become irrelevant, unimportant, insignificant? Already?!
PTI bashers dont hesitate calling BBC pro Taliban. Such a simple and straight forward criticizum for every one you dislike. Shame
Experience is good but there are mental, biological and physical reasons that there is a retirement age when a person is in his/her 60's. Is there such a dearth of talent that only people who are suitable are well past their retirement age? While the whole modern world including China is led by their young leadership we are still searching among senior citizens.
@Baloch Insafian: How about me??
WOW! @Uza Syed Loved the hidden meanings behind your words. P.S: Happy that PTI is still itching you guys! ;)
@ali ahmed: brilliantly put.
@ Uza: For your kind info, youth cannot contest presidential election according to pakistani constitution. President must be 45 years old.
@Uza Syed: Minimum age for President is 45 years - an experienced & old fatherly figure, not youth. Do you even realize how illogical you get when bashing PTI?
both JI and PTI are taliban iteehaad party..they can hire the service of Ehsanullah Ehsan..for campaign..since he is out of job
Good decision by JI. After all both these parties are in coalition in kpk
After publicly embarrassing Nawaz government by extracting statement from FO in support of Mr. Mursi, they just dumped him! Men of their word!
This was a given, one facist was due to support another fascist. Now even Taliban's are having a go for Presidency.
Mullahs (JI) supporting clean-shaven Taliban (aka PTI).
Haris Chaudhary: And what do you reckon is wrong with JI? Hate infested liberals are new breed in our culture, eh!
PTI should also boycott the election as a protest against the biased attitude of the judiciary. Otherwise PMLN will be roasted in the upcoming local bodies elections. Although partyless elections are illegal and will be malafide, SC will gladly endorse it. Mark my words, Imran Khan.
A 65 year young PTI leader Dr Alvi submits papers for another even younger 75 year young Wajeehuddin and they celebrate, no questions asked, it reflects the youthiya culture of PTI and the youthiyapa it can sell to its ignorant youths.
PML-N has manouvered the begining of the end of the federal structure. Those that have supported this early election will see the results sooner than they think.
Its clear that there are divisions within the opposition. PPP is boycotting the election. MQM, JUI-F are always going to be with the government. PTI's imran khan wants to have a 3-way meeting with the COAS and the PM in order to feel important. So, his party will take a slight middle ground of not boycotting the election. What he is failing to understand is that he cannot afford to play goody goody with the government.
Birds of a feather flock together !
PTI really is JI dressed up in jeans and T-shirt !!
I think PTI should also boycott. With the Sharif courts and Sharif government, contesting this 'selection' would be a wasted effort. Though I hate PPP more than anybody but do appreciate this decision.