The Hindu : Front Page : Poll allowed, uncertainty still for Musharraf

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Saturday, Oct 06, 2007
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Poll allowed, uncertainty still for Musharraf

Nirupama Subramanian

– PHOTO: AP

INSIDE PAKISTAN: Posters showing support for General Pervez Musharraf hang on the fence surrounding the President’s residence in Islamabad on Friday.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday allowed Saturday’s presidential election to go ahead as scheduled but kept President Pervez Musharraf in uncertainty, ruling that the results could not be announced until after the petitions challenging his candidature were decided.

General Musharraf is a candidate in the election still mired in legal questions including his eligibility to contest. He is likely to win the indirect contest balloted by an electoral college comprising the National Assembly, the Senate and the four provincial assemblies, obtaining the required simple majority from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q).

The rulers on Friday promulgated a National Reconciliation Ordinance, sealing an agreement securing the tacit support of the Pakistan People’s Party, largest opposition party, in return for withdrawal of corruption cases against its leader Benazir Bhutto.

The agreement blunted the impact of the resignations of more than 150 parliamentarians and legislators from other opposition parties in protest against the election.

Grouped under the All Parties Democracy Movement, these parties were in disarray over the failure of one of their partners, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, to dissolve the North West Frontier Province Assembly in which it has a majority.

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