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Pakistan election date announced Pakistan election date announced
(30 minutes later)
Pakistan is to hold its presidential election on 6 October, the election commission has announced. Pakistan is to hold its presidential election on 6 October, the Election Commission has announced.
The last day for filing nominations has been set for 27 September, commission spokesman Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said.The last day for filing nominations has been set for 27 September, commission spokesman Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said.
President General Pervez Musharraf has said he will give up his post of army chief if he is re-elected for another term of office. President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said he will give up his post of army chief if he is re-elected for another term.
The country's Supreme Court is debating his right to remain army chief if he stands for president again. He faces a number of legal challenges to his plans. Pakistan's president is not elected directly, but by a ballot of federal and provincial assemblies.
Pakistan's president is not elected directly by the people, but by a ballot of the federal and provincial assemblies. President Musharraf has faced mounting opposition to his rule throughout 2007.
The Supreme Court still has to decide whether he can stand for election while remaining head of the army or even as a retired general.
Growing opposition
On Monday, the Election Commission changed electoral rules that could help Gen Musharraf's re-election plans.
The commission said a constitutional rule that retiring state servants could not run for office until two years had elapsed did not apply to presidential candidates.
KEY DATES 23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return10 Sep: Mr Sharif arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia on his return to Pakistan11 Sep: Lawyers for Mr Sharif challenge his deportation in the Supreme Court15 Sep-15 Oct: Timeframe Gen Musharraf has set for his re-election as president by parliament18 Sep: Gen Musharraf's lawyer says he will quit as army chief if he is re-elected18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held US explores policy options
There had been growing opposition to controversial amendments - to the constitution and in parliament - allowing Gen Musharraf to be both president and army chief until November 2007.
Opposition parties say Gen Musharraf's decision to get himself re-elected in uniform is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
Observers believe the amendment in the election rules is probably a message to the judges that there is now no need to rule against his dual position - but the BBC's Barbara Plett says this may not be enough.
The Supreme Court is hearing six petitions - from political parties and lawyers - seeking to disqualify Gen Musharraf as a presidential candidate.
The six petitions also oppose Gen Musharraf's plan to seek re-election from the current parliament and provincial assemblies, saying there should be general elections first.
Previous promises
It is not the first time Gen Musharraf has said he will step down as army chief.
In 2002, he promised members of Pakistan's Islamic parties that he would resign as head of the army by 2004 in return for their support for a constitutional amendment legitimising his 1999 military takeover.
The opposition believed the verbal promise was also enshrined in the amendment, an issue disputed by Gen Musharraf's advisers.
Instead, Gen Musharraf succeeded in getting parliament to pass an act with a simple majority giving him a one-time exemption to stay on in office until November 2007.
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto announced last week that she intends to return to Pakistan from exile on 18 October to contest parliamentary elections, which must be announced by mid-November and held by mid-January.
She was said to have been in negotiations with Gen Musharraf over a deal that would allow her a third term as prime minister in exchange for her support for his plan to be re-elected president, correspondents say.
Another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, returned from exile earlier in September promising to challenge Gen Musharraf - but was deported within hours to Saudi Arabia.