BBC : Musharraf vote nomination backed

Musharraf vote nomination backed

September 29, 2007

Election officials in Pakistan have approved President Pervez Musharraf's nomination for re-election, despite efforts to have him disqualified.

The election commission approved Gen Musharraf and two rivals to contest the 6 October poll.

Lawyers and activists angry at his bid to be elected without standing down as army chief earlier clashed with police.

The authorities used batons and tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in Islamabad and Lahore.

Observers expect Gen Musharraf to win the poll.

Stone-throwing

Opposition activists had hoped Gen Musharraf would be barred from standing for president, as he has not yet quit his position as head of the armed forces.

But the Supreme Court dismissed a number of legal challenges on Friday, and the Electoral Commission approved his candidacy on Saturday.

Before the commission's announcement, hundreds of lawyers had taken to the streets in cities including the capital, Islamabad, where they gathered in front of the commission's offices.

The BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad, said running battles between police and protesters took place over several hours.

The police said they were enforcing a law banning demonstrations in the capital, but protesters claimed the demonstration had begun peacefully and turned violent because of the huge security presence.

The incident suggests Pakistan could be in for a week of political turbulence in the run-up to next week's election, our correspondent says.

Opposition activists are expected to mount further legal challenges to Gen Musharraf's candidacy and campaign for the elections to be postponed.

But observers believe the ballot will take place as planned.

There are more than 40 candidates for the presidential election, although none is expected to be a serious challenge to Gen Musharraf.