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Pro-Taliban clerics, liberal faces in Pak October elections
Islamabad, Aug 26: Anti-American clerics, pro-military government politicians and a twice-deposed Prime Minister are among the thousands who have filed nomination papers to run in parliamentary elections intended to restore democracy to Pakistan.
Islamabad, Aug 26: Anti-American clerics,
pro-military government politicians and a twice-deposed Prime Minister are among the thousands who have filed nomination papers to run in parliamentary elections intended to restore democracy to Pakistan.
Some of the anti-government parties who filed papers by today's deadline indicated they might be willing to form alliances that would give them a parliamentary majority.
That would enable them to fight unpopular constitutional amendments that military President Gen Pervez Musharraf recently enacted to extend his rule and increase his power.
Last week, Musharraf unilaterally approved amendments that extend his rule for five years, grant him the authority to dissolve parliament, and establish a national security council that would oversee the performance of parliament and the Prime Minister. Musharraf said the next parliament would have the authority to abolish the amendments if opponents can muster the votes.
Spokesmen for both Bhutto and Sharif said that such an alliance was a possibility.
The religious alliance, comprising six conservative Islamic parties that oppose Musharraf's support for the us-led war on terrorism, has fielded candidates across the nation. Religious parties traditionally fare poorly in national elections, however.
Bureau Report
Some of the anti-government parties who filed papers by today's deadline indicated they might be willing to form alliances that would give them a parliamentary majority.
That would enable them to fight unpopular constitutional amendments that military President Gen Pervez Musharraf recently enacted to extend his rule and increase his power.
Last week, Musharraf unilaterally approved amendments that extend his rule for five years, grant him the authority to dissolve parliament, and establish a national security council that would oversee the performance of parliament and the Prime Minister. Musharraf said the next parliament would have the authority to abolish the amendments if opponents can muster the votes.
Spokesmen for both Bhutto and Sharif said that such an alliance was a possibility.
The religious alliance, comprising six conservative Islamic parties that oppose Musharraf's support for the us-led war on terrorism, has fielded candidates across the nation. Religious parties traditionally fare poorly in national elections, however.
Bureau Report