Former president Asif Ali Zardari, the joint candidate of the PPP and the PML-N for the president, will be facing Pashtun­khwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai in the presidential polls, Radio Pakistan reports.

According to the report, Achakzai has been nominated by the Sunni Ittehad Council, the new home of the PTI-backed lawmakers.

Their nomination papers were filed today for the presidential elections, which will be held on March 9. The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on Monday.

The president is elected by an electoral college comprising members of the Senate, the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies. Voting is held through a secret ballot.