This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7023424.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pakistan MPs in election boycott Pakistan MPs in election boycott
(30 minutes later)
More than 80 opposition MPs have resigned from Pakistan's national parliament in protest at Saturday's presidential election.More than 80 opposition MPs have resigned from Pakistan's national parliament in protest at Saturday's presidential election.
They insist that President Pervez Musharraf is ineligible to stand.They insist that President Pervez Musharraf is ineligible to stand.
Meanwhile two rival candidates for Saturday's election have filed fresh petitions in the Supreme Court against Gen Musharraf's candidacy.Meanwhile two rival candidates for Saturday's election have filed fresh petitions in the Supreme Court against Gen Musharraf's candidacy.
Last Friday the court dismissed a number of petitions, in a move seen as a major victory for the president.Last Friday the court dismissed a number of petitions, in a move seen as a major victory for the president.
The president is elected by MPs from the national assembly and Pakistan's four provincial assemblies.The president is elected by MPs from the national assembly and Pakistan's four provincial assemblies.
Gen Musharraf looks certain to win the election Correspondents say that the resignations make it even more certain that Gen Musharraf will win the vote.
'Unconstitutional''Unconstitutional'
The 86 MPs who resigned on Tuesday were drawn mainly from an alliance of Islamic parties, the MMA, and from the PML-N party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.The 86 MPs who resigned on Tuesday were drawn mainly from an alliance of Islamic parties, the MMA, and from the PML-N party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Other presidential candidates have launched a legal challenge
"We are handing over the resignations today because we consider the election of the president is illegal and unconstitutional," one leading MP, Liaquat Baloch, said, the AFP news agency reports."We are handing over the resignations today because we consider the election of the president is illegal and unconstitutional," one leading MP, Liaquat Baloch, said, the AFP news agency reports.
The MPs hope the resignations will make the presidential election be seen to be meaningless.The MPs hope the resignations will make the presidential election be seen to be meaningless.
"This is the first step to discredit the election process," another MP, former cricket star Imran Khan, said."This is the first step to discredit the election process," another MP, former cricket star Imran Khan, said.
The country's biggest party is the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. It is not taking part in the boycott.The country's biggest party is the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. It is not taking part in the boycott.
The PPP has been in talks with Gen Musharraf over a power-sharing agreement.The PPP has been in talks with Gen Musharraf over a power-sharing agreement.
Parliament must now function without an opposition
The petitions filed by lawyers representing two candidates standing against President Musharraf, retired Judge Wajihuddin Ahmed and Makhdoom Amin - vice chairman of the PPP - say that the president is not eligible to stand while also remaining head of the army.
The petitions state that the Election Commission was wrong to approve his nomination papers over the weekend.
"We are hopeful for justice," lawyer Tariq Mahmood told the Associated Press news agency. "We have a strong case against President Musharraf."