Musharraf sets date for parliamentary elections

President Pervez Musharraf announced yesterday that legislative elections would be held in Pakistan on 10 October as part of a commitment to return to democratic rule within three years of the bloodless coup that put him in power.

State-run Pakistan Television interrupted its regular programming to announce the election date for the lower house of parliament and the four provincial legislatures.

General Musharraf seized power in October 1999 after the Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, fired him as army chief of staff and replaced him with a junior general. The military revolted and arrested Mr Sharif, who was charged and found guilty of attempted murder after he tried to prevent the civilian aircraft carrying General Musharraf from landing in Pakistan. He was sentenced to life in prison, but was exiled to Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled that the military takeover was necessary, but ordered General Musharraf to hold general elections by October 2002 and return Pakistan to democratic rule. General Musharraf agreed.

Frustrated by successive corrupt governments, many Pakistanis welcomed General Musharraf's takeover. But, a referendum held in April to extend his term as President by another five years badly bruised his credibility. There were reports of widespread irregularities, which General Musharraf blamed on overzealous election workers. He won approval for an additional five years in office with 98 per cent of the vote.

Since his takeover, General Musharraf has made it clear that neither Mr Sharif nor Benazir Bhutto, also a twice-elected prime minister, would be allowed to contest elections. Ms Bhutto has been convicted in absentia of corruption and faces a total of eight years in jail. She is living in self-imposed exile in the United Arab Emirates, although her party workers say she may return to her homeland. The authorities say she will be arrested.

General Musharraf recently announced constitutional reforms to limit prime ministers and provincial chief ministers to two terms each. That disqualifies both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif and most of the previous provincial premiers.

Despite the restrictions, Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan's alliance of religious parties said they would contest the elections.A spokesman for Ms Bhutto's populist Pakistan People's Party refused to say whether the party would contest the poll or boycott it.