Musharraf's nomination approved
Sunday, 30 September 2007
ISLAMABAD, SEPT 29 (AP): Riot police fired tear gas and used batons on protesting lawyers as Pakistan's Election Commission rejected objections to President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's re-election bid Saturday.
A day after the Supreme Court quashed legal challenges to Musharraf's candidacy, the Election Commission approved his nomination, a senior commission official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media.
The commission approved only five of the 43 candidates, including Musharraf's two main challengers: Wajihuddin Ahmed, a retired judge nominated by lawyers, and Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, the official said. A list was to be released later Saturday.
"If the rule of law has to prevail, the Election Commission of Pakistan would not allow a serving general to contest the presidential election," Tariq Mahmood, one of Ahmed's main aides, said earlier.
A day after the Supreme Court quashed legal challenges to Musharraf's candidacy, the Election Commission approved his nomination, a senior commission official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media.
The commission approved only five of the 43 candidates, including Musharraf's two main challengers: Wajihuddin Ahmed, a retired judge nominated by lawyers, and Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, the official said. A list was to be released later Saturday.
"If the rule of law has to prevail, the Election Commission of Pakistan would not allow a serving general to contest the presidential election," Tariq Mahmood, one of Ahmed's main aides, said earlier.