Islamabad, April 16 (IANS) Courts in Pakistan have disqualified former president Pervez Musharraf for contesting parliamentary elections for suspending the constitution and imposing emergency in 2007 during his rule, lawyers said Tuesday.
Musharraf wanted to contest the National Assembly elections from four constituencies, including capital Islamabad, but his nomination papers were rejected by the Pakistan Election Commission authorities, reported Xinhua.
He had filed appeals against rejections of his nomination papers by the local election authorities in three constyituencies of Karachi in Sindh, Kasur in Punjab province, and capital Islamabad, but the Election Tribunals, comprising judges of high courts, rejected these.
Musharraf’s papers were only accepted in the northern Chitral district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. However, his political rivals challenged acceptance of his nomination papers here also.
A three-member Election Tribunal Tuesday accepted the objections by Musharraf’s rivals and disqualified him for contesting the election from Chitral.
Lawyers of rival candidates said that Musharraf had abrogated the constitution and that he is also facing cases in courts and is not eligible to contest for the parliamentary seat.
They also argued that Chitral is a peaceful area and Musharraf’s election could create law and order problem.
Pakistani Taliban in a video have warned that they will attack Musharraf.
Mushararf, who ruled Pakistan 1999-2008, was disqualified a day after he announced election manifesto of his All Pakistan Muslim League party.
Legal experts say that Musharraf has the right to appeal in the Supreme Court.
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