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Musharraf details election terms | Musharraf details election terms |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will stay on as head of the army if he is not elected for another presidential term, his lawyer says. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will stay on as head of the army if he is not elected for another presidential term, his lawyer says. |
Speaking in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the lawyer was clarifying the general's conditional promise to remove his military uniform. | Speaking in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the lawyer was clarifying the general's conditional promise to remove his military uniform. |
The court will decide if he can stand for election while holding both posts. | The court will decide if he can stand for election while holding both posts. |
On Monday, the US called on President Musharraf to ensure that forthcoming elections are free and fair. | On Monday, the US called on President Musharraf to ensure that forthcoming elections are free and fair. |
Protests | Protests |
Growing opposition to military rule has come to a head with imminent presidential elections. | Growing opposition to military rule has come to a head with imminent presidential elections. |
Facing Supreme Court challenges, Gen Musharraf finally promised that he would resign as head of the army if he is elected president for another term. | Facing Supreme Court challenges, Gen Musharraf finally promised that he would resign as head of the army if he is elected president for another term. |
He has taken the whole country hostage through the power of the gun Opposition MP Imran Khan | |
Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum gave more details about the president's plans on Tuesday. | |
"It is very clear that if not elected he will remain chief of army staff," he told the Supreme Court. | |
But he denied the president had any plans to impose martial law if his re-election strategy does not go according to plan. | |
"There will be no martial law," he said, "there will be no emergency." | |
Pakistan's ruling Muslim League-Q party said on Tuesday that President Musharraf had signed the nomination papers for his candidacy, which had been endorsed by 17 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. | |
"We have the required votes to ensure his success," the party's Secretary-General, Mushahid Hussain, told the AFP news agency. | |
Arrests | |
The announcement by Mr Qayyum has been condemned by the opposition. | |
"He has taken the whole country hostage through the power of the gun," said opposition MP and former Pakistani cricket captain, Imran Khan, one of a number of people who have petitioned the court against Gen Musharraf remaining army chief and president. | |
Opponents of Gen Musharraf want him out now | |
In recent days security forces have arrested hundreds of activists and blocked roads leading to the capital. | |
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US government, a close ally of President Musharraf, found the detentions "troubling". | |
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the big question now is what happens if he is not elected. | |
Our correspondent says the general is determined to prevent the opposition from taking to the streets to protest against his election. | |
And observers believe he is determined to cling to power, either as president or army chief, or both. | |
One editorial accused the government of trying to get the president elected by hook or by crook and said the crackdown showed a severe crisis of credibility rather than strength. | One editorial accused the government of trying to get the president elected by hook or by crook and said the crackdown showed a severe crisis of credibility rather than strength. |