Election to next five-year President of Pakistan will be held on October 6, the Election Commission said on Thursday.

 

Nomination papers for presidential candidates will be received on September 27, the commission said.

 

General Pervez Musharraf's term as president expires on November 15 and he is seeking another five-year term through a presidential election by current assemblies, whose tenure will expire on October 15.

 

President Musharraf will doff uniform after getting re-elected and before taking oath as next five-year president, his lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada Tuesday told the Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions of challenging Musharraf's dual roles as both state head and army chief.

 

Tuesday's statement suggests Musharraf will contest the presidential election in uniform, which has sparked protests from opposition groups.

 

The opposition alliance All Pakistan Democratic Movement (APDM), challenging eligibility of Musharraf as a presidential candidate, earlier warned their lawmakers will quit assemblies if Musharraf stands to contest presidential election.

 

However, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q) in Musharraf's support said PML (Q) and its allies would have enough votes for successful re-election of Musharraf as president.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2007)