Bhutto election bid rejected
Officials in southern Pakistan today rejected a bid by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to run in parliamentary elections because she has been convicted of corruption.
The announcement in Lakarna was a major setback for the twice-deposed leader’s bid to return to power in a new civilian government with a seat on the National Assembly.
Rulings are expected tomorrow on her bids for two other seats. Pakistani politicians commonly run in several constituencies.
In a surprise move yesterday, the election commission certified former Primer Minister Nawaz Sharif as a candidate in the elections, despite a government ban on his return from exile in Saudi Arabia.
Sharif was overthrown by current President Pervez Musharraf in a bloodless military coup in October 1999. He was sentenced to life in jail on hijacking and terrorism charges.
But in December 2000 he was released in exchange for a promise that neither he nor 25 relatives, including his wife and brother Shahbaz, would return for 10 years.
All were banned from participating in Pakistani politics under the deal reportedly brokered by the Saudi royal family.
Bhutto was convicted on corruption charges in absentia and officials say there are 12 additional cases against her still outstanding.
Musharraf has said Bhutto, unlike Sharif, is free to return to Pakistan but that she would face arrest.
