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Musharraf 'wins presidency vote' Musharraf 'wins presidency vote'
(about 1 hour later)
Gen Pervez Musharraf has won a vote to be re-elected Pakistan's president, officials say, even though it is unclear if his candidacy was legal.Gen Pervez Musharraf has won a vote to be re-elected Pakistan's president, officials say, even though it is unclear if his candidacy was legal.
Lawmakers in parliament and Pakistan's four provincial assemblies took part in Saturday's vote. He won all but five of the votes cast in parliament's two houses and swept the ballots in three of four provincial assemblies, election officials said.
Most opposition parties boycotted the vote, saying it was unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court says no winner can be declared until it decides whether Gen Musharraf can stand while army chief.The Supreme Court says no winner can be declared until it decides whether Gen Musharraf can stand while army chief.
A deal with former PM Benazir Bhutto meant her supporters did not join an opposition boycott of the election.
On Friday Gen Musharraf dropped corruption charges against Ms Bhutto - a stride towards an expected power-sharing deal.
HAVE YOUR SAY If both the sides are serious, it should work. This should bring the much-desired stability to Pakistan Bijal Bhatt, Auckland, New Zealand Send us your comments Musharraf's bitter-sweet day How the president is electedHAVE YOUR SAY If both the sides are serious, it should work. This should bring the much-desired stability to Pakistan Bijal Bhatt, Auckland, New Zealand Send us your comments Musharraf's bitter-sweet day How the president is elected
Gen Musharraf hopes the reconciliation agreement, as it is called, will add credibility to his government. Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is the largest in the country. Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq told the National Assembly that Gen Musharraf had won 252 of 257 votes cast in the upper and lower houses.
Security was tight in cities across Pakistan for Saturday's vote, after opposition parties and lawyers' groups called for protests. He said his nearest rival, Wajihuddin Ahmed, had won just two votes. Three votes had been rejected.
Results of voting in the Sindh provincial assembly have still to be announced, but they will not affect the outcome.
Security was tight in cities across Pakistan, after opposition parties and lawyers' groups called for protests.
In Peshawar, capital of North West Frontier Province, police fired tear gas at lawyers protesting near the assembly building.In Peshawar, capital of North West Frontier Province, police fired tear gas at lawyers protesting near the assembly building.
Gen Musharraf's supporters dominate the assemblies, thanks to elections five years ago widely condemned as rigged.Gen Musharraf's supporters dominate the assemblies, thanks to elections five years ago widely condemned as rigged.
A deal announced on Friday with former PM Benazir Bhutto meant her supporters did not join Saturday's opposition boycott.
Under the deal, Gen Musharraf dropped corruption charges against Ms Bhutto - a stride towards an expected power-sharing arrangement.
'Just a formality''Just a formality'
Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months, at the same time as the security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taleban militants opposed to Gen Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror".Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months, at the same time as the security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taleban militants opposed to Gen Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror".
Gen Musharraf will step down as army chief, but only if he wins the election, his lawyers have said.
KEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential vote is held 17 Oct: Supreme Court to resume hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-JanuaryKEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential vote is held 17 Oct: Supreme Court to resume hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-January
But Friday's ruling by the Supreme Court throws the presidential election into confusion. Gen Musharraf will step down as army chief, but only if he is re-elected, his lawyers have said.
But a ruling by the Supreme Court on Friday throws the presidential election into confusion.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says government officials called the decision a formality but analysts said it was a serious setback that would place a question mark over the legitimacy of the poll.The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says government officials called the decision a formality but analysts said it was a serious setback that would place a question mark over the legitimacy of the poll.
It means that even if Gen Musharraf does get the most votes he cannot be declared winner until the court has decided if he was a valid candidate in the first place. It means that even though Gen Musharraf has the most votes he cannot be declared winner until the court has decided if he was a valid candidate in the first place.
On 28 September the court dismissed a number of earlier objections filed by Gen Musharraf's opponents on technical grounds.
That led to fresh petitions being filed.
The judges said they would not make a final decision before 17 October, which coincides with the day Ms Bhutto says she will leave London to return from years of self-imposed exile.The judges said they would not make a final decision before 17 October, which coincides with the day Ms Bhutto says she will leave London to return from years of self-imposed exile.
Correspondents say Gen Musharraf was waiting for the court's verdict before formalising a power-sharing deal with Ms Bhutto.
The ordinance signed into law on Friday exempts any person charged with - but not convicted of - corruption between 3 January 1986 and 12 October 1999.
Correspondents say it is designed to exclude another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, whose corruption cases date from 2000.
The amnesty paves the way for Ms Bhutto's return to contest parliamentary elections scheduled to be held by mid-January.