Sharif barred from election
Still unacceptable: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) talking with Turkish President Abdullah Gul (R) in Islamabad, yesterday. Pakistani authorities rejected former premier Nawaz Sharif's candidacy for next month's general election, further damaging the credibility of a vote that the opposition may yet boycott. Picture: AFP
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
PAKISTANI authorities yesterday banned former premier Nawaz Sharif's from standing in next month's general election, further damaging the credibility of a vote that the opposition may yet boycott.
The ruling came as Sharif prepared to hold crunch talks with fellow opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, in which he aimed to persuade her not to participate in the emergency-ruled nation's polls on January 8.
Electoral officials upheld a challenge against Sharif's candidacy on the grounds that he was convicted of criminal charges in the wake of his 1999 ouster by Pervez Musharraf, who is now president.
"The nomination papers of Nawaz Sharif are hereby rejected," election commission returning officer Raja Qamaruz Zaman said in the eastern city of Lahore.
A rival election candidate for Sharif's seat, Khawaja Tahir Zia, had asked the commission to disqualify Sharif because he had been convicted in a hijacking case in 2000.
The case involved Sharif's attempt to stop a plane carrying Musharraf, who was then army chief, from landing in Pakistan in October 1999. Musharraf ousted Sharif as a result of that incident.
Sharif's lawyers said they planned to file an appeal against his disqualification.
"How can elections be free and fair in these circumstances?" Syed Zafar Ali Shah, the vice president of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, said.
"After eight years of military rule and with an election commission which is biased and powerless, it is no surprise that they have rejected the nomination papers of the leader of one of Pakistan's largest parties," he added.
The decision came two days after Sharif's brother Shahbaz, a former provincial chief minister, was also disqualified from the elections because of pending criminal charges.
Visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul also met Bhutto and Sharif yesterday and discuss ongoing political situation of Pakistan. Bhutto and Nawaz were also set to have a crucial meeting yesterday.AFP
The ruling came as Sharif prepared to hold crunch talks with fellow opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, in which he aimed to persuade her not to participate in the emergency-ruled nation's polls on January 8.
Electoral officials upheld a challenge against Sharif's candidacy on the grounds that he was convicted of criminal charges in the wake of his 1999 ouster by Pervez Musharraf, who is now president.
"The nomination papers of Nawaz Sharif are hereby rejected," election commission returning officer Raja Qamaruz Zaman said in the eastern city of Lahore.
A rival election candidate for Sharif's seat, Khawaja Tahir Zia, had asked the commission to disqualify Sharif because he had been convicted in a hijacking case in 2000.
The case involved Sharif's attempt to stop a plane carrying Musharraf, who was then army chief, from landing in Pakistan in October 1999. Musharraf ousted Sharif as a result of that incident.
Sharif's lawyers said they planned to file an appeal against his disqualification.
"How can elections be free and fair in these circumstances?" Syed Zafar Ali Shah, the vice president of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, said.
"After eight years of military rule and with an election commission which is biased and powerless, it is no surprise that they have rejected the nomination papers of the leader of one of Pakistan's largest parties," he added.
The decision came two days after Sharif's brother Shahbaz, a former provincial chief minister, was also disqualified from the elections because of pending criminal charges.
Visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul also met Bhutto and Sharif yesterday and discuss ongoing political situation of Pakistan. Bhutto and Nawaz were also set to have a crucial meeting yesterday.AFP
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