Government steps up effort to re-elect Musharraf unopposed

The government has stepped up its efforts to re-elect President Pervez Musharraf unopposed, with the opposition parties still divided on the issue of resigning from the assemblies, and they have not yet agreed on a joint candidate for the presidential election.

Islamabad, Sep 23 : The government has stepped up its efforts to "re-elect" President Pervez Musharraf unopposed, with the opposition parties still divided on the issue of resigning from the assemblies, and they have not yet agreed on a joint candidate for the presidential election.

The PPP and the JUI-Fazl have not yet agreed to their legislators resigning from the assemblies along with the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) lawmakers on September 29.

"We would like that the president re-elected unopposed," a source close to the president said.

Though the Supreme Court has yet to decide petitions challenging the legality of Musharraf contesting the presidential election, the opposition parties are relying on lawyers to block his re-election.

The government, a source said, has already renewed its contacts with Benazir Bhutto to convince her not to join the APDM in resigning from the assemblies.

It is understood that the APDM parties resigning from the assemblies will not block the presidential election, but an election without the participation of the PPP and the JUI-F as well would not be seen as credible, the Daily Times reported.

An insider said: "If the APDM parties resign from the assemblies and the PPP and the JUI-F do not participate in the presidential election by choosing to abstain from the process, Musharraf is most likely to be re-elected un-opposed. But there is a possibility that the lawyers may field a candidate against the president."

ANI