ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s election board yesterday barred former president Pervez Musharraf from contesting polls in one constituency and the Supreme Court agreed to look into a treason complaint against him, hurting his efforts to win back influence.
The former army chief returned last month after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest the May 11 general election despite the possibility of arrest on charges and death threats from the Pakistani Taliban.
The Election Commission barred him from Kasur in Punjab province because of court cases against him, officials said. He could also face disqualification in three other constituencies where he plans to run — Karachi, his home town, Islamabad, where he has a farm house, and Chitral, a mountain region on the Afghan border.
Officials said the decision was based on a clause in the constitution which requires candidates to be of good character and the fact that he had not declared all his assets. “Musharraf has been disqualified under Articles 62 and 63, among other reasons,” a official said, referring to clauses that require a candidate to be “of good character” Musharraf faces charges of failing to provide adequate security to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto before her assassination in 2007. He also faces accusations in connection with the death of a separatist leader in the southwestern province of Baluchistan. He denies any wrongdoing.
A petition to be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday accuses him of committing treason when he sacked senior judges and declared emergency rule while in power in 2007. It is filed by Taufiq Asif, President of the Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association.
The current Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, was embroiled in a confrontation with Musharraf, who removed him from office in 2007 after he opposed plans to extend the general’s term in office. He was later reinstated.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whom Musharraf ousted in a coup in 1999, is seen as the front runner. Musharraf, a former commando, has been far removed from Pakistan’s troubles during his exile in London and Dubai.
Aasia Ishaque, information secretary for Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League, said the cancellation of Musharraf’s nomination papers in Kasur would be challenged.
Pakistan’s youngest and high- profile former foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, said she would not contest election.
“I will be a covering candidate for my father Noor Rabbani Khar who has been awarded a PPP ticket for NA 177 Muzaffargarh-11,” she said.
“I did not apply for a PPP reserved seat for women. I will be involved with the PPP during the campaign.” Agencies
