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Musharraf Is Disqualified From Pakistani Elections Musharraf Is Disqualified From Pakistani Elections
(about 7 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A Pakistani court disqualified the country’s one-time military leader and president Pervez Musharraf from taking part in coming national elections on Tuesday, dashing his hopes of rejoining Pakistani politics. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A Pakistani court disqualified Pervez Musharraf, the country’s onetime military leader and president, on Tuesday from taking part in coming national elections, dashing his hopes of rejoining Pakistani politics.
And in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, the Pakistani Taliban continued its campaign of violence to disrupt the coming elections, staging a suicide attack on a major political rally that killed at least 15 people in Peshawar. And in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, the Pakistani Taliban continued its campaign of violence to disrupt the elections, staging a suicide attack on a major political rally that killed at least 15 people in Peshawar.
General elections are scheduled for May 11, and Mr. Musharraf had planned to run for Parliament in four election districts across the country. His nomination papers from three of the districts were rejected in an initial review by the national election commission, as officials concluded that he had subverted the Constitution when he took power in a coup in 1999 and was therefore ineligible to run. However, he was allowed to run in Chitral, a picturesque, mountainous northern district, and his opponents had appealed that decision.General elections are scheduled for May 11, and Mr. Musharraf had planned to run for Parliament in four election districts across the country. His nomination papers from three of the districts were rejected in an initial review by the national election commission, as officials concluded that he had subverted the Constitution when he took power in a coup in 1999 and was therefore ineligible to run. However, he was allowed to run in Chitral, a picturesque, mountainous northern district, and his opponents had appealed that decision.
On Tuesday, a high court tribunal disqualified Mr. Musharraf from running in Chitral, citing various technicalities.On Tuesday, a high court tribunal disqualified Mr. Musharraf from running in Chitral, citing various technicalities.
Ahmad Raza Khan Qasuri, a lawyer for Mr. Musharraf and a senior official of his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, expressed disappointment over the disqualification. He said Mr. Musharraf planned to appeal to the Supreme Court.Ahmad Raza Khan Qasuri, a lawyer for Mr. Musharraf and a senior official of his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, expressed disappointment over the disqualification. He said Mr. Musharraf planned to appeal to the Supreme Court.
“Our spirits are very high,” Mr. Qasuri said. “I am with him, and the party leadership has decided that we are going to fight a legal battle.” He acknowledged, however, that Mr. Musharraf’s chances of winning on appeal were slim. “Our spirits are very high,” Mr. Qasuri said. “I am with him, and the party leadership has decided that we are going to fight a legal battle.” He admitted, though, that Mr. Musharraf’s odds of winning on appeal were slim.
Last month, Mr. Musharraf ended a four-year self-imposed exile and returned to Pakistan. His party lacks any substantial presence in the country’s treacherous and volatile political landscape. Only a small crowd greeted Mr. Musharraf after he landed in Karachi, and Mr. Musharraf has struggled to find electable political candidates for his party. Last month, Mr. Musharraf ended four years of self-imposed exile and returned to Pakistan. His party lacks any substantial presence in the country’s treacherous and volatile political landscape. Only a small crowd greeted Mr. Musharraf after he landed in Karachi, and Mr. Musharraf has struggled to find electable political candidates for his party.
Mr. Musharraf’s characteristic swagger was missing during a news conference in Islamabad on Monday as he tried to appear defiant despite a litany of court cases and security threats by militants. “Whenever I see danger, I jump into it, and then I realize it is not a danger,” he said.Mr. Musharraf’s characteristic swagger was missing during a news conference in Islamabad on Monday as he tried to appear defiant despite a litany of court cases and security threats by militants. “Whenever I see danger, I jump into it, and then I realize it is not a danger,” he said.
But his ability to campaign has been hobbled because of security threats from Islamist militants and Baluch separatists, whom he tried to quell with military force during his time in office. The Interior Ministry has issued warnings of a possible suicide attack, forcing him to limit his movements. But his ability to campaign has been hobbled because of threats from Islamist militants and Baluch separatists, whom he tried to quell with military force while in office. The Interior Ministry has issued warnings of a possible suicide attack, forcing him to limit his movements.
The security situation in Pakistan has worsened in recent days as Taliban militants have targeted secular politicians in the restive northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.The security situation in Pakistan has worsened in recent days as Taliban militants have targeted secular politicians in the restive northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
On Tuesday evening, a suicide bomber killed at least 15 people, including five police officers, and wounded at least 34 people at an election rally of the Awami National Party in Peshawar, a hospital spokesman said. Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, a senior leader of the party and the former rail minister, survived the attack with minor injuries. On Tuesday evening, five police officers were among the 15 people killed in the suicide bombing in Peshawar, a hospital spokesman said. At least 34 people were injured in the attack, at an election rally of the Awami National Party, the spokesman said. Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, a senior leader of the party and a former rail minister, survived with minor injuries.
In a telephone interview, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, Ehsanullah Ehsan, claimed responsibility for the attack, adding, “This attack was part of our war on the A.N.P.” In a telephone interview, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, Ehsanullah Ehsan, claimed responsibility, adding, “This attack was part of our war on the A.N.P.”
The Taliban has killed 700 A.N.P. activists and supporters over the past five years, the party says. Among them was Mr. Bashir’s brother, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, also a politician, who was killed in December. The Taliban has killed 700 Awami National Party activists and supporters in the past five years, the party says. Among them was Mr. Bilour’s brother, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, also a politician, who was killed in December.
In the southwestern province of Baluchistan, a roadside bomb ripped through a convoy of one of the country’s biggest political parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on Tuesday, killing four people. Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, the head of the party in Baluchistan, survived the attack, but his son, brother and nephew were killed, according to officials. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Mr. Zehri had survived an earlier assassination attempt by Baluch nationalists. In the southwestern province of Baluchistan, a roadside bomb ripped through a convoy of one of the country’s biggest political parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on Tuesday, killing four people. Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, the head of the party in Baluchistan, survived, but his son, brother and nephew were killed, according to officials. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Mr. Zehri had survived an earlier attempt on his life by Baluch nationalists.
Mr. Musharraf was the second high-profile personality to be barred from running for Parliament this week. On Monday, Raja Pervez Ashraf, the departing prime minister, was also disqualified, in a blow to the Pakistan Peoples Party. Under the departing president, Asif Ali Zardari, the party led the first civilian government to serve out its full term in Pakistani history.Mr. Musharraf was the second high-profile personality to be barred from running for Parliament this week. On Monday, Raja Pervez Ashraf, the departing prime minister, was also disqualified, in a blow to the Pakistan Peoples Party. Under the departing president, Asif Ali Zardari, the party led the first civilian government to serve out its full term in Pakistani history.
Mr. Ashraf faces wide-ranging allegations of corruption and mismanagement during his stints as prime minister and federal minister for water and power. Election officials rejected his nomination papers earlier this month. Mr. Ashraf appealed the decision in an appellate tribunal, which upheld the decision. Mr. Ashraf faces wide-ranging allegations of corruption and mismanagement during his stints as prime minister and federal minister for water and power. Election officials rejected his nomination papers this month, and Mr. Ashraf appealed, but an appellate tribunal upheld the decision.
The decision puts the Pakistan Peoples Party in an awkward situation, as it now must rely on second-tier leadership in contesting the elections. Yusuf Raza Gilani, another party heavyweight, was dismissed from the prime minister post by the Supreme Court in June, and he is also disqualified from running for Parliament.The decision puts the Pakistan Peoples Party in an awkward situation, as it now must rely on second-tier leadership in contesting the elections. Yusuf Raza Gilani, another party heavyweight, was dismissed from the prime minister post by the Supreme Court in June, and he is also disqualified from running for Parliament.