File photo of former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
However, his papers for the constituency of NA-32 Chitral were accepted by the Retuning Officers of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
"His papers are in order. He is not convicted so far so we cannot disqualify him," returning officer in Chitral Jamal Khan said.
But in the retired general's home city of Karachi, officials turned down his nomination on charges of violating the constitution and sacking top judges.
Returning officer Ikramur Rehman upheld objections raised by his rivals that Musharraf had violated the constitution and sacked top judges by imposing emergency rule in 2007.
"This is a biased decision," Afzal Agha – an official in Musharraf's party – said, adding that an appeal would be filed.
Lawyer Sajidullah Khan vowed to challenge Musharraf's candidature in Chitral.
"Musharraf is not eligible and we will lodge an appeal before the election tribunal," he said.
Earlier on Friday, Musharraf’s nomination papers for NA-139 were also rejected by a returning officer of the ECP.
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.
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also challenged Musharraf’s nomination papers for NA-32 constituency in Chitral.
Following the objections on Musharraf, 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 (59)
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Top listed lawyers says,
it was difficult for the election officials to give Musharraf a clearence certificate because allegations levelled against him are highly serious .Higher court court has already delivered judgement on the same subject.
He is contesting for national assembly from Chitral. But the quarters concerned secretly related to the political parties are preparing to challenge his candidacy in the lection tribunal.
@SHB: His average take on the lecture circuit USD 250,000 per session (this figure actually on lower side) and do the math for min 30 sessions.
Remember the dismemberment of the country in 1971. Stop revengeful politics. You will regret if you do not mend your ways.
I agree with the concern by others about accepting his papers from one and rejecting them from 2 constituencies. The bigger question is: why are people filing 4 sets of papers from 4 locations. Why not do it centrally and then ask them where would they want these applied. With computers, this should be as easy as accepting them in the location where they are filed and reduce the work load.
He is only being victimized because he is an urdu speaking! This ethnic bias against him should stop and if it doesnt (God forbid) then this countrys ruling elite will sadly further alienate people of southern sindh and other areas incl maybe the army. So dont do something which threatens the social fabric.
@Ravi: "Same needs to strictly followed in India, where a big portion of lawakers are law breakers themselves."
Anyone convicted for over 2 years in a criminal case is ineligible for elections in India. It is unfortunate that the legal system has such delays but we must presume that people are inocent until proven guilty and as such the people that you refer to as lawbreakers are accused but not convicted of breaking laws. A large number of them truly maybe lawbreakers and the way to keep them out is to unclog the judicial system so that convictions come quicker. Turning every returning officer into a make shift judge who passes judgment on crimes that have not yet been decided in a court of law would be very harmful to India if it tried that. BEcause then any government in power could simply start fake cases against its opponents and thereby deprive them of the opportunity to come to power. Such arbitrary powers must be rejected even though they may yield decisions we like in the shot term.
@Waseem: He might be brave but he is not honest. He is dishonest . By his own account his net worth is Rs 645 million. How did he collect this money in the last ten yrs? Did he pay taxes on this money? What are his assets in UAE and London? To me , like other politicians, he is also corrupt to the last drop of his blood unless proven otherwise.
Why accepted from Chitral NA-32, that is ridiculous.
@Abdullah Khan: "Sham democracy. ..... It means that establishment is once again in Action. .......If musharaf is the product of Marshal law, Nawaz sharief is also the product. And in Asghar Khan case Entire IJI parties must be ban to participate in Election. If musharf period 2008 parliamentarian can amend constitution it mean that he did well in the past. If he illegally ruled the country than every action of his government should be declare null and void. The 2008 election and the amendement made during this time should also be declare null and void...." . Bravo @Abdullah Khan: Well said!
Why Nawaz Sharif is let to participate in election, despite being a convict in the plane conspiracy case and Musharraf rejected? Are we seeing the roll of kangaroo courts again, where the so called judges are acting based upon their news information from the popular media instead of tangible proof?
@Ahmad Bada Did "mullahs" subvert the Constitution in 1999? Did "mullahs" rule after usurping power and defied democratization for almost a decade, ruining the country in the process? Who declared emergency and once again subverted the State and its Constitution in 2007? I am not a "mullah" but have a fair mind and put blame where it is due. Anti-mullah rants cannot absolve Musharraf of his crimes.
Judicial revenge. Where do you go for justice now.
Let him face court for high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution
Two different sets of rules have been applied in Musharraf's case which is a serious anomaly committed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Either he should be allowed or debarred to contest in all constituencies.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: ; " I don’t know how ECP works. How can candidate stand disqualified from twoconstituencies and the same candidate stand qualified from another contituency?" -
The probable reason is that clear cut guidelines to disqualify under article 62/63 is not given by ECP and it is left on the wisdom of the Returning officers( mostly judges) who are using their discretion( wisdom)
All that is going on is because of Musharaf's stance against Mullahs. This country is corrupt from top to bottom and under the influence of Mullahs.
But still we love Musharaf..
@Zaka: How shameful that a dictator who violated the constitution should be able to contest elections. Even the presence of Musharraf in Pakistan is a joke; The same dictator who shamed all expatriate Pakistanis in North America by making the nation look like a Banana Republic lead by a General! How can they even allow a man who has no respect for the constiution to take part in elections? Musharraf should be charged with treason and put in jail. Chitral may be a backward rea but the people of Chitral have shown they are truly backward by allowing such a charcter to stand for elections.
@Khurram: Can't you face the truth!? The judges referred to are indeed PCO. Nothing can change that fact.
Is there no requiement of residenceship of the candidate in a particular constituency before he is able to apply as a candidate to represent a particular community.
Musharraf should be banned by ECP as he is a dictator and dictator should stand disqualify automatically. Due to this person our country is in mess
Only country in the world where person disqualified from his basic right before any conviction. Are these RO learn law by reading newspaper? Is Pakistan a banana republic where every one can make their own judgment without any due course of Law? For god sake think collectively as whole world is watching (The Tamasha) democratic procedure of Pakistan. Here in US, our Pakistani friends don't have any answer for embarrassing situation when it come to Pakistani politics. ET pls..............
All those who are blaming ECP, it is not their decision but constitution by the very same politicians who are looting Pakistan.
Pious in NA-32 Chitral but not in NA-250, NA-48. Confused much??
Ofcourse, he is fluent in the language spoken in the military outpost in chitral. This is where the military practice polo games.
Rex Minor
@plz explain: ECP does what it wants to do. By the way, do you know the name in your local mosque?
It seems to me that the people of Chitral have the self respect to appreciate it if someone strives for them honestly. Others just lack the courage to be honest to themselves.
Good Luck! General!!
Laws should be same for everyone
It's all Pre-planned from the time Musharraf left Pakistan. He is going to play a major role in coming years.
Head leader of which party had been asked to appear physically by any RO? then why Musharraf is being asked to appear by the NA250 RO?
there are cases against Nawaz sharief but because he is not convicted yet so he is allowed to contest. In the same manner there are cases against musharraf too and he is not convicted yet BUT he is not allowed to contest and his papers are being rejected.Can some one explain plz
Way to go!!! NA-32 Chitral seat is for Musharraf and the people of Chitral will turn out in 100 % for a referendum in favour of Musharraf!!!
Musharraf! as you have been taught all of your life..try and fail, not to fail without trying. You need to tell the people of Pakistan that you tried to helping them, to serve them, to get the out of the mess of democracy, to get rid of lords and mafias, thugs, corruption.
You need to tell Pakistanis, I tried but my dear fellow citizens, you failed me... now please let Zardaris and Nawazs handle your my fellows.
@Bushra: are you insane calling judges as PCO judges? i really doubt about you being having any knowledge, instead you supporting someone for the sake of supporting only. do follow who ever you want to, but dont go blind while supporting.
Good. I do not want this guy in my constituency. One who abrogated the constitution 2 times, killed Bugti, killed thousands of Baloch and thousands others in Lal Masjid and KPK/tribal areas. The guy must be tried for high treason against my beloved country and its citizens!
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
"I don’t know how ECP works.
How can candidate stand disqualified from twoconstituencies and the same candidate stand qualified from another contituency?
It’s very amazing for me."
I was going to ask exactly the same.
This sounds like people are taking decisions arbitrarily.
these are cheap ways to make hurdles in his political role in Pakistan. There are many who love him because he is an honest and brave man. He gave Pakistan progress and prosperity no other govt. could give. Masses miss his rule when life was far better for majority. He will succeed by the grace of God.
NA 250 rejected and NA 32 accepted.... Very abstruse and esoteric ECP's attitude is about/for Musharraf...... The question rises here that when Musharraf is the same candidate/man in NA 250 and NA 32 and allegations and accusations are also the same on Musharraf then why his nomination papers are rejected in NA 250 and accepted in NA 32 or Musharraf has changed himself in NA 32 and not in NA 250??????
General Wellcome to Pakistan, this is SLAP on your face for the ARM you showed on 12th May when we were dying here in KARACHI and you were celebrating GRAND JALSA in Islamabad.
I don't know how ECP works.
How can candidate stand disqualified from twoconstituencies and the same candidate stand qualified from another contituency?
It's very amazing for me.
Dear Musharraf ! Wasted time coming to Pakistan
While Sharif Brothers, Zardari Talpur, Chaudhry Brothers, Altaf Hussein ANP and all other looters mafiosos feudal lords gangsters are all A NUMBER 1 VERY GOOD ELIGIBLE FOR CONTEST VOTE of course DEMOCRACY
Why are the courts not coming into action and unnecessarily creating controversy about his eligibility to stand in elections?? If he is charged then that's the end of his eligibility.
He should had not came back here in Pakistan.
You should not have come back Musharraf. Poor error in judgement on your part. Pakistan doesn't deserve you,
And the drama continues
Someone please tell him it's over.
Musharraf is getting trolled everywhere!!! :D
General sahib -Pakistan is not a banana republic you know that!
Of course you can't have Chupri aur do do. Impose martial law while in boots and then enjoy parliament after retirement.
I do not support RO rejecting the papers of candidates and act as summary courts. However, the fact is if a candidate's papers are rejected from one seat then they should be rejected from all the seats. Why would Mush even try from other seats after the first rejection? Now the matter is in SC and role is reversed. Like every citizen Mush deserves justice and he should not be afraid of justice.
Kudos for Election commission of Pakistan to reject General's papers.
Same needs to strictly followed in India, where a big portion of lawakers are law breakers themselves.
The PCO judges will hold hearings against a former dictator under whom they took the new oaths of martial law. Ironic and hypocritical!