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Bhutto's party may contest vote

Pakistan's serpentine politics took another twist yesterday after former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's party declared it would contest the Oct. 6 presidential polling -- but only if President General Pervez Musharraf is barred from running.

The announcement came as the Supreme Court resumed hearing petitions that could determine Musharraf's right to pursue a new five-year term. The opposition claims he cannot do so without giving up his powerful dual role as army chief.

Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, has pledged to step down as military chief and restore civilian rule if lawmakers give him a fresh mandate on Oct. 6. But a government lawyer said on Tuesday the Pakistani leader would stay on as army chief if he is not re-elected.

That has fueled opposition claims, denied by the government, that Musharraf could be setting the stage to declare a state of emergency.

With the court expected to make a ruling this week, authorities have already rounded up at least 100 opposition party leaders and members -- perhaps many more -- to prevent street protests, drawing sharp criticism from Washington and the EU.

Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said its vice chairman, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, would contest the presidential vote by national and provincial lawmakers if the Supreme Court disqualifies Musharraf, according to a party statement released late on Tuesday.

That indicated the party did not intend to run directly against Musharraf, who has held monthslong talks with Bhutto over a possible power-sharing deal.

But in an effort to keep the pressure on the military leader to cut a deal that could allow Bhutto to become prime minister for a third time, the party said it would also consider resigning from parliament to boycott the vote if Musharraf is allowed to run.

"If the Supreme Court does not disqualify General Pervez Musharraf, the PPP would consider resigning from the Parliament unless moves are taken toward democracy," party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

An opposition coalition of Islamist parties and the party of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, have said they plan to resign from parliament this week -- a move that would lead to at least a partial boycott of the vote by lawmakers, intended to rob it of legitimacy.

The coalition's leaders were to meet yesterday to finalize their plans.

Syed Munawar Hasan, a leader of the Islamist Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), or United Action Forum, said that its lawmakers would resign from the National Assembly, parliament's lower house, but added they were keeping their options open until after the Supreme Court verdict on whether to resign from the four provincial assemblies.
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