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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Musharraf details election terms | Musharraf details election terms |
| (9 minutes 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. |
| He has taken the whole country hostage through the power of the gun Opposition MP Imran Khan | He has taken the whole country hostage through the power of the gun Opposition MP Imran Khan |
| 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. | |
| Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum gave more details about the president's plans on Tuesday. | 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. | "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. | But he denied the president had any plans to impose martial law if his re-election strategy does not go according to plan. |
| KEY DATES 27 Sep: Close of nominations for presidential ballot 29 Sep: Date some opposition parties to begin boycotting parliament 06 Oct: Presidential vote to be held, election commission says 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held | |
| "There will be no martial law," he said, "there will be no emergency." | "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. | 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. | "We have the required votes to ensure his success," the party's Secretary-General, Mushahid Hussain, told the AFP news agency. |
| Arrests | Arrests |
| The announcement by Mr Qayyum has been condemned by the opposition. | 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. | "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 | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |