The Hindu : International : Pakistan Opposition parties cry foul

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Monday, Sep 17, 2007
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International

Pakistan Opposition parties cry foul

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in Pakistan on Sunday expressed outrage at the Election Commission notification amending the election rules to enable President Pervez Musharraf to run for another term in office.

The Pakistan People’s Party described the notification as “illegal and unconstitutional” and demanded that it be withdrawn immediately. In a statement, spokesman Farahtullah Babar said constitutional amendments could be made only by Parliament.

He accused Gen. Musharraf of prevailing upon the Election Commission to “arbitrarily and illegally tamper with the Constitution,” and said the action was “a subversion of the Constitution.”

The PPP said it was clear that free and fair elections were not possible under the present Election Commission. But it was not clear in what manner, if at all, the party will oppose the President’s candidature. Party Benazir Bhutto is due to arrive in Pakistan on October 18, only after the last date for the presidential elections.

The All Parties Democracy Movement, a grouping of the Pakistan Muslim league (Nawaz), the religious right wing Muttahida Majlise-e-Amal and other smaller regional parties, said it would resign from the National and provincial assemblies on the day Gen. Musharraf’s nomination papers are accepted.

The announcement came at a joint press conference of APDM leaders, after a meeting of the grouping — full of mutual recriminations for its inability to mobilise people for Mr. Sharif’s arrival on September 10 making his re-exile all the more easier — on Sunday to chart a future course of action.

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