Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf gets approval to run for parliament
Ex-leader's candidature cleared in constituency near Afghan border, despite his legal troubles
Pakistani poll officials Sunday approved former military dictator Pervez Musharraf to contest the upcoming general election, despite a litany of legal challenges against him.
Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan for nine years after seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999, returned to Pakistan from four years in self-imposed exile on March 24, vowing to run for the May 11 poll in four constituencies.
In the far northern town of Chitral, close to the Afghan border, officials approved Musharraf’s candidature on Sunday, an AFP journalist witnessed.
“His papers are in order. He is not convicted so far so we cannot disqualify him,” returning officer Jamal Khan said.
But in the retired general’s home city of Karachi, officials turned down his nomination on charges of violating the constitution and sacking top judges.
Returning officer Ikramur Rehman upheld objections raised by his rivals that Musharraf had violated the constitution and sacked top judges by imposing emergency rule in 2007.