The Chief Election Commissioner in Pakistan on Saturday approved
nomination papers of President General Pervez Musharraf and his two
major challengers, the News Network International (NNI) news agency
quoted Secretary of Election Commission as saying.
A total of 17 nomination papers were submitted for Musharraf and
all were approved by the Chief Election Commissioner Justice Qazi
Muhammad Farooq, the secretary Kanwar Dilshad said.
All objections from the rival candidates and their lawyers at
the papers of Musharraf were rejected.
A former Supreme Court judge Wajeehuddin Ahmed and Makhdoom Amin
Faheem of opposition Peoples Party (PPP) are challenging Musharraf
in the elections due on October 6.
The election chief also accepted their nomination papers and
rejected more than 30 nomination papers of other candidates as
their papers did not carry signatures of prospers and
seconders.
The Election Commission will publish the final list of
presidential candidates on October 1.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who had filed nomination papers for
Musharraf on Thursday, visited the office of Chief Election
Commissioner to witness the scrutiny of nomination papers of
Musharraf.
The Election Commission conducted the scrutiny of nomination
papers as the authorities had erected barbed wires on roads leading
to the Election Commission building to foil attempts from lawyers
and opposition supporters to march on the office, according to the
NNI report.
The police clashed with protesting lawyers and political
activists, leaving several lawyers and protestors injured.
The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the petitions against
Musharraf's dual role filed by opposition party leaders and lawyers
had been dismissed. Thus Musharraf was allowed to contest the
forthcoming presidential elections in uniform.
(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2007)
