Musharraf nomination papers rejected,disqualified from polls

General elections are scheduled for May 11,and Musharraf planned to run for Parliament in four election districts across the country. His nomination papers from three of the districts were rejected in an initial review by the national election commission,as officials concluded that he had subverted the Constitution when he took power in a coup in 1999 and was therefore ineligible to run. However,he was allowed to run in Chitral,and his opponents had appealed that decision.

On Tuesday,a high court tribunal disqualified Musharraf from running in Chitral,citing various technicalities.

Ahmad Raza Khan Qasuri,a lawyer for Musharraf and a senior official of his party,the All Pakistan Muslim League,expressed disappointment over the disqualification. He said Musharraf planned to appeal to the Supreme Court.

I am with him,and the party leadership has decided that we are going to fight a legal battle. He acknowledged,however,that Musharrafs chances of winning on appeal were slim.

His party lacks any substantial presence in the countrys treacherous and volatile political landscape.

Only a small crowd greeted Musharraf after he landed in Karachi,and he has struggled to find electable political candidates for his party.

Musharraf announced his partys election manifesto at a lacklustre news conference on Monday in Islamabad,where he maintains a lavish and highly fortified farmhouse.

Bomb targeting PML-N leader kills four

ISLAMABAD: FOUR persons were killed and 30 injured when PML-N leader Sanaullah Zehris motorcade was targeted with a bomb in restive Balochistan province Tuesday,adding to concerns about security for next months general election. Zehri escaped unhurt but his son Sikander,brother Mehrullah Zehri and nephew Mir Zaid Zehri were killed. A bodyguard was also killed,officials told the media. The bomb was triggered by remote control as the motorcade was crossing a bridge in Khuzdar district. Police officials said Zehri had escaped as his car was equipped with a jammer. PTI

9 killed,50 wounded in blast at anp rally

Peshawar: At least nine were killed and over 50 wounded Tuesday when a suicide bomber attacked an election rally for a party opposed to Pakistans Taliban movement,police said. The blast struck a gathering called by senior politicians of Awami National Party in Peshawar. It was a suicide attack, senior police official Shafqat Malik said. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban,which has threatened to attack the ANP ahead of the vote,claimed responsibility for the blast. Police said Ghulam Ahmad Bilour,a veteran politician and senior member of the ANP,was among the wounded. PTi