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Published 15 Jul, 2006 12:00am

‘Musharraf not entitled to campaign for parties’

ISLAMABAD, July 14: Leader of the Opposition in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said the opposition had continuously maintained that Gen Pervez Musharraf under the rules, law and the constitution was not entitled to campaign or politically work for any party in the country.

The PPP leader, in a press release, said reiteration of this constitutional position by the chief election commissioner (CEC) was a vindication of the opposition’s position.

The CEC being aware of this position in law failed to perform his constitutional obligation and duty by not refraining Gen Musharraf from pursuing the election campaign of the PML.

“The nation will now watch if in future the chief election commissioner would take action under the law in restraining Gen Musharraf.”

Similarly, he said, the criteria that only those possessing the National Database and Registration Authority’s computerised national identity cards should be registered as voters was not acceptable.

In the first place, Nadra has failed to provide the national identity cards to a overwhelming majority of the people, particularly in the rural areas. Secondly, it should be recalled that many a flaw were found in the database of Nadra which led to the cancellation of previous voter’s lists. Thirdly, it has been admitted by the CEC himself that at least 20 million voters will not be registered on this account.

The voter’s lists prepared on such a criteria where a majority of the people are de-franchised because of no fault of there own is neither acceptable nor justifiable.

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