KARACHI: Mohtarama Miss Fatima Jinnah last night “graciously accepted” combined opposition parties’ request for nomination as a candidate for the Presidential election, leaders of Opposition told newsmen after their meeting at Lakham House. The meeting, which commenced at 5 p.m. deliberated till 10 p.m. The five opposition leaders, namely Khwaja Nazimuddin, Chaudhri Mohammad Ali, Maulana Bhashani, Mr Nasrullah Khan and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, then drove to Miss Fatima Jinnah’s residence. They remained with Miss Jinnah for 45 minutes and garlanded her.

Later, Miss Jinnah talking to newsmen said that she had agreed to run for the Presidentship for the sake of the nation. She had no other motive but to serve the people, she said. Miss Jinnah later posed for photographers along with other leaders who called on her. She was dressed in a white shirt and Shalwar and looked cheerful. Talking to newsmen, Miss Jinnah said she had accepted to run for the office of the President for the sake of the nation. “The nation must support me. It is the only motive of my decision to run for the President and nothing else.” Miss Jinnah is expected to formally accept the nomination today when the representatives of the joint Opposition call on her after the second session.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2014