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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 Gen Pervez Musharraf has said he will give up his post of army chief if he is re-elected for another term. | President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said he will give up his post of army chief if he is re-elected for another term. |
| 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. | 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. |
| President Musharraf has faced mounting opposition to his rule throughout 2007. | 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. | 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 | Growing opposition |
| Opposition parties have called for Gen Musharraf to seek re-election from a new parliament instead of the outgoing assemblies. | |
| They have also threatened to resign from the assembly if he does not quit his military role before a presidential vote. | |
| 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 | |
| The government says it has enough seats to re-elect Gen Musharraf anyway. | |
| "The election dates have been announced, God willing we will re-elect him, we have got the majority, we have got the strength," Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani was quoted by news agency AFP as saying. | |
| On Monday, the Election Commission changed electoral rules that could help Gen Musharraf's re-election plans. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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 | Previous promises |
| It is not the first time Gen Musharraf has said he will step down as army chief. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |