ISLAMABAD: Pervez Musharraf was disqualified from contesting Pakistani elections next month, crushing his ambition to ‘save’ the troubled nuclear-armed country just weeks after his return from exile.
Pakistan goes to the polls on May 11, marking the first time a civilian government has handed over power at the ballot box after completing a full term in office in a country used to extended periods of military rule.
The Pakistan election campaign has got off to a lacklustre start and been marred by violence and Taliban threats.
Election officials disqualified Musharraf just one day after he unveiled his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party manifesto at a press conference overshadowed by questions about a series of legal cases dating back to his nine years in power.
The retired general is on bail over the 2007 killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the 2006 death of a rebel leader from the region of Baluchistan, and for sacking judges when he imposed emergency rule in 2007. But he told reporters Monday: “The only thing in my heart was to save Pakistan and now I am here I have the same commitment, that I will save Pakistan.”
The Taliban threatened to assassinate him on the eve of his return to Pakistan on March 24, where he was welcomed by only a few hundred ardent supporters.
The 69-year-old applied to run for parliament in four seats but was rejected immediately from all but the northern district of Chitral, on the Afghan border.
Lawyers appealed against his approval in Chitral and on Tuesday a court official said Musharraf’s nomination had been thrown out on the grounds that he violated the constitution in 2007.
Musharraf’s team have vowed to appeal against the decision in the Supreme Court, which is also hearing a separate petition from lawyers demanding that Musharraf face trial for treason dating back to his 1999-2008 rule.
Lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri said the decision was an insult to “an internationally known person” and would show the world “what democracy we have”.
“Let us see what the Supreme Court decides. We are hopeful we will get justice,” close Musharraf aide and APML candidate in Islamabad, Mohammad Amjad, said, denying that the decision would have any impact on the party’s campaign. AFP
