Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday scrutinised and approved the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Dr Arif Alvi and Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Aitzaz Ahsan for the presidential election.
The nomination papers of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, who has been fielded by the grand alliance of opposition parties, will be scrutinised after he appears before the commission.
Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan scrutinised the nomination papers as Ahsan and Alvi appeared before the commission.
The opposition remains divided over fielding a consensus candidate as PPP has decided that it would not withdraw its presidential candidate Ahsan.
PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari summoned a party meeting on Tuesday to discuss cooperation sought by Maulana Fazl for a consensus presidential candidate.
Zardari said the JUI-F leader was a respected figure for them, but they had to make a "political decision", according to sources, adding that the PPP could not compromise its principled politics.
Candidates have until Thursday, August 30 to withdraw their nomination papers, after which the final list will be made public on the same day.
Polling for the presidential election will be held on September 4.
The president is elected by an electoral college comprising members of the Senate, National Assembly, and the four provincial assemblies. Voting is held through a secret ballot.
