Pakistan presidential elections set for October

The presidential election in which Pakistan’s military leader is expected to seek a new five-year term in office will be held on October 6, an Election Commission official said.

The commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that nomination papers would need be submitted by September 27 and the vote by federal and provincial lawmakers held October 6.

Pakistani TV networks reported the same dates.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf has seen his popularity plummet in recent months but is determined to seek a new term.

His lawyer announced this week Musharraf would quit as army chief and restore civilian rule if lawmakers vote him back as president.

The ruling coalition remains confident that it has enough votes to re-elect Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup. His current presidential term is due to expire on November 15.

But the party of exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, whose talks with Musharraf over a possible power-sharing deal have stalled, has threatened to join other opposition parties in boycotting the vote.

Such a boycott could rob the vote of some legitimacy in the eyes of the public.

Still, the main threat to Musharraf’s re-election plan appears to be legal, including over changes recently made in rules for the presidential election that would benefit the military leader.

The Supreme Court was today continuing hearing a raft of petitions, and a ruling on Musharraf’s eligibility for the election is expected within days.