File photo of former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: FILE
His papers were rejected following six objections made by advocate Javed Kasuri.
One of the objections stated that the ex-general does not meet the criteria established in Article 62 and 63 of the constitution.
After hearing arguments, the returning officer declared Musharraf ineligible to contest the elections from NA-139.
The former president will be able to appeal the decision.
Musharraf had submitted his nomination papers from the constituency NA-139 Kasur and was planning to contest elections from other constituencies including Karachi, Islamabad and Chitral.
The Election Commission barred Musharraf from the polls in Kasur in Punjab province because of court cases against him, commission officials said. He could also face disqualification in the three other constituencies where he plans to run.
The officials, who declined to be identified, also said the decision was based on a clause in the constitution which requires candidates to be of good character and the fact that he had not declared all of his assets.
"Musharraf has been disqualified under articles 62 and 63 of the constitution, among other reasons," an election commission official.
Objections
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) challenged Musharraf’s nomination papers for NA-32 constituency in Chitral.
In an application filed to the returning officer, the parties raised nine points which could disqualify Musharraf from the contesting from the constituency.
They prayed that Musharraf was not eligible to contest elections under Article 5, 6, 62, 63, and 42 of Constitution of Pakistan.
Objections were also raised by other parties on Musharraf’s nomination papers filed for NA-48 constituency in Islamabad. The returning officer of the constituency summoned Musharraf on April 7 to present arguments against the objections.
PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal also filed an application in the ECP, earlier the same day, against Musharraf.
Musharraf violated the constitution of Pakistan several times, alleged Iqbal.
He requested the ECP to reject Musharraf’s papers and to disqualify him from contesting the upcoming general elections.
Supreme Court case
The Supreme Court has approved an application requesting action against Musharraf under Article 6 of the constitution.
The application stated that Musharraf is a traitor.
The case against him is based on imposing martial law on October 12, 1999 and enforcing emergency on November 3, 2007.
The hearing will commence on Monday under a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
COMMENTS (70)
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Being honest People Don't know a Single word About Article 62 and 63. Clarify it in your Newspaper to Make it more Visible Picture in People of Pakistan Minds
@Sameer: It is 2013 and Pakistan is not part of ‘Great Britain’. So one does not have to be knighted in order to be called ‘sir’ . But Pakistan is part of the Commonwealth and only the Queen can knight someone. Unless according to you he is similar to Sir Ravinder Jadeja. Please check his twitter account and see the pics to know more. In my opinion, Sir Jadeja is the greatest "Sir" ever.
Musharraf's biggest crime was the abrogation of the constitution, twice. Can there be any bigger crime in the eyes of the law? It does not matter what the inflation rate was during his period or if he really isn't a billionaire or anything else. He committed crimes, so he should face justice. As simple as that.
@DM:
He is a burnt out man and should take his bread and butter and enjoy his retirement on the banks of a lake, remembering the good old past, makng sure that he is far from the Talibans who mean what they announce. He should also make sure that he has paid the income tax dues. Alcapone was sent for tax violations and not for the cimes he committed.
Rex Minor
@Parvez: You have a point.But please let Pakistan breath democracy and not smell military uniform. Let him answer the court for charges against him including treason(use of force to remove the civilian elected Gvenment), denying total secuity for Bibi, causing her cold blooded murder, handing over suspected citizens etc etc.
The new Govt. should nationalise the military, redesign the flag, make all provinces fully independent , Pakistan being the Union of the Provinces as is the case in Switzerland.
Rex Minor
@Foreign Leg
@Zalmai: Agree with you 100% . "PS: As for your previous spat with some of your fellow ethnicity, I hope you realize that “Nothing succeeds like success” and “Rats always abandon a sinking ship”.
My fellow Pashtun brothers from the other side of the border are deprived of learning their own history, language and culture and the results are in front of you. They don't understand the legacy and the ethos of Bacha Khan, Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai and Khushal Khan Khattak because they cannot read Pashto anymore, which is sad.
Yes, nothing succeeds like success. The Afghan currency is higher than the Pakistani rupee, its soccer team is ranked higher than both Pakistan and India and it won a bronze medal in the Olympics while Pakistan won nothing. Tell tale indicators of a country that is moving forward unlike our neighbor.
@Thingamee:
It is 2013 and Pakistan is not part of 'Great Britain'. So one does not have to be knighted in order to be called 'sir'
as long as he does not return back to some western country ....who cares for this...
Now bar him from leaving the country! Send him to trial for overthrowing an elected government. Starting the Kargil war by bypassing and not consulting the elected govt of the day. This man needs to be jailed so that no soldier ever again dares to dream of staging a coup.
Does anyone remember that this man got 98% of the 78 million registered votes on April 30, 2002? How? Because he was a military ruler who was desperate for legitimacy. So he said let's have referendum. Of course without an opponent, with no voters' list and constituencies. Anyone proving his/her identity was allowed to vote. Some were allowed to vote again and again. But time has changed. Today all his voters are on the facebook! But they are not ready to come out for him.
I wish Mushy all the best, he has been singled out and disqualified on arbitrary grounds which can never really be proven nor justified.
I would rather if he was disqualified for the cases pending against him even if they are yet to be proved since that would be more judicially appropriate then disqualification for lack of character or the like...
@moderator: why do you not post comments that you dont like, when you dont take responsibility of what the people are saying. So much for your freedom of thought and speech touting. Shame on you - I will never visit ET again.
Well. InshAllah I will vote for PTI but what he did in 1999 was super unconstitutional by removing elected government. People now will say that his action was reaction of Prime Minister firing him from Army Chief position. Well, Prime Minister had and has constitutional right to dismiss any General and his Kargil misadventure which got us nothing but disgrace.
If we don't stop this here, tomorrow some crazy General will also send PTI government home if they come into power. In today's modern age, Pakistan can't live like an African country!
What a Chief Justice, and What an Election Commission!
Rage of Devils
And yet Ludhianvi and Rana can still contest elections?
Shows the true colors of ECP
he should be allowed to contest elections.he is the only sincere leader who did a lot for pakistan .i love him. i am his fan.
Pervez Musharraf should be trialed under Article 6 for treason against democratically elected government of Nawaz Sharif. Akbar Bugti killing case, Lal Masjid case, Benazir Bhutto killing case and Missing Persons cases are also in queue for Mushi.
Did he really think that he was going to be accepted after what he has done to the country and the judiciary. His assumption was that the Establishment was going to help him come back and wait in the wings. Now you can't leave the country and must face the law of the land. It is time that Pakistanis emulate the South Americans and put him behind bars where he belongs. Let it be a lesson to other ambitious Generals waiting their turn, this is 21st century and the age of Internet, it won't fly any more Mr.General.
@FN: You are a day dreamer mr!!
@The Only Normal Person Here.:
I didn't know Musharraf had been knighted? Do tell more.
@ex PML-N:
This newspaper should let its readers know what these : * criteria of 62 and 63? actually are .
A compulsive liar and looted the wealth of the nation is eligible to contest the election. ECP is proving to be a joke.
The game to rule the country again is finally over for the former dictator who would be kicking himself for his decision to return to Pakistan. However, days of his woes are not yet over as his best friend ie the judiciary is tightening its noose around his neck. RIJ(Rest in Jail)
I have two words, poetic justice. There is a God after all.
First Ayyaz and now PM papers rejected. Has any boady asked these returning officers what is the creiteria to reject the nomination papers. Its looks as every one interpreting section 62 and 63 at his/her own will and applying own standard. Such scenario is creating mockery of the returnign officers appointed by ECP. After few hours decision of NOA column taken back. Probably the scrutiny procedure will face the same fate if not rectified on urgent basis. Fakhroo Bhai do some thing.
A person who imposed emergency is not eligible to contest in election whereas a person who was finance minister in a dictator's regime is eligible, way to go ROs.
Calm down Mush lovers and haters.........it's just one constituency that he had been disqualified from. Unless Article 6 come into action, he will get a run from rest of the constituencies.
Well done Musharraf for putting these Dacoits (PLMN) into Jail in the beginning of this century.
Well done Musharraf for Approving & proclaiming the degree verification law.
Musharraf is not a billionaire even After decade long un-question rule on Islamic republic. In Musharaf era Pakistan was fastest growing country in Asia.
But on the other hand a middle class family (Main nawaz family ) who lived in a small house of walled city (gwalmandi) become politicians and now they are second richest family of Pakistan with billions of dollars Foreign assets.
I will definitely prefer Musharraf over Plmn/ ppp/ and other thugs
@Appalled: "He removed a government which had the majority vote." And Imran Khan promptly joined him for about 4 years!!!!!
Amazing.. People are collectively united to bring Zardari & Nawaz back... ! You deserve fake degree holders and thugs.. not the Musharraf who has proven track records of eligibility.
@Anserali Khan: Yes by the same judge who was in a bench which validated his take-over and gave him unlimited powers to amend the constitution.
It seems that everyone is scared of Musharraf. Are you afraid that your loot party is about to be over?
Because People of Pakistan support Sir Musharraf and if he contests, he will surely win.. and some people don't want that as they are scared of the commando.
There is a case fixed in Supreme Court on Monday 8th April for HIGH TREASON under Article 6 of the Constitution against Pervez Musharaf.
What goes around comes around.
mush is gone
please elaborate on articles 62 ..63 ..of the constitution..
This news has made my day. Prosecute him for subversion of the constitution and toppling the elected government.
Musharraf Sir come back please and leave these dumb people to rot. They will never know right from wrong and thats why the country is destined to doom.
Let us see who becomes eligible to contest out of all high profile leaders? What about IK. Is he eligible ?
Guys, please slow down. This is too much entertainment to take in 1 day.
Not only are the people of Pakistan expected to know verses of the Holy Koran but also all the articles of the constitution?
@G. Din: Thud is indeed very loud for the puny as they are so close to the ground!
Musharraf has no chance in the Nawaz-CJ support areas. This was expected.
Dear IK! Allah will make a way for PTI to clean sweep!
Oh, how the mighty fall! And, the thud is so pleasing to the ear!
Its a time, its a chance to show the real power and rule of law. Now constitution violators have to bow before it and CJ courage can prove law supremacy.Hope for victory of justice and Constitution.
it will hard for him to find the exit strategy this time.
This is sad news for Pakistan.
What kind of 'conviction' is needed? He removed a government which had the majority vote. That is treason in itself. I am a PTI supporter but removing an elected government is against the law and PMLN actually had a majority in that election. Sorry Musharraf. Better luck next time.
This is begining of political victimisation Zardar in his wisdom had avoided this . How can the judges that apporoved his take over of,power now try him? It is all a joke Try musharafnand try judge chaudharyband his supportors
Wonder what all those faux-intellectuals will say now about Article 62 and 63 of the constitution.
why he doesn't meet the criteria of 62 and 63? is it because of his affection for branded "water"?
He is not convicted in any case at this point of time. Really biased and disappointing decision.
Dreams seem to be shattered. ECP has proved that it is not being backed by ESTABLISHMENT...!
Let the man contest elections. He's 100x better than the previous 5 years democratic government. At least in his time we didnt have so much inflation, poverty, law and order situation and so much loadshedding.
Musharraff you can go back to London/Dubai for now and relax, you can come back again to participate in 2018 elections to 'save' Pakistan.
It seems now Angels will rule this country!
How can ECP permit Ludhyanvi to contest...??? I was surprised to hear that... Killing People doesn't matter but Fake degrees does. long live Pakistan...
The case file in ECP on behalf of Mr. Ahsan seeks disqualification of Musharraf alleging that he can not contest polls due to his involvement in four cases, the Akbar Bugti killing case, the Lal Masjid case, the Benazir Bhutto killing case, and the missing persons case.
These are mere cases and not a singly judgement has been passed by the Judicial system
How they dare??? Sack the judges now and declare emergency...lol
Inshallah the Kasur people will mark "None of the above" :P
Yaaaaahooooooo... In Sha ALLAH he will face all hardship people faced in his time before he die.
Good Omen! He needs to first pay for his crimes before even thinking of representing people.
Interesting to note. Let us see where who all others become vicitm of qisqualification.
So much for coming back. Off you go Mr. Musharraf.
Your time in Pakistani politics is over. Be thankful you're not in jail.