JURIST - Paper Chase: Pakistan opposition renews challenge against Musharraf re-election bid

[JURIST] Lawyers representing the opposition Pakistani Peoples Party [party website] filed new petitions at the Supreme Court of Pakistan [official website] Tuesday challenging President Pervez Musharraf's bid to run for another term in office. The opposition members argue that the Election Commission of Pakistan [official website] should not have formally accepted Musharraf's nomination [JURIST report] as a presidential candidate because of his dual role as president and army chief. The petitioners also argued that Musharraf should not be able to avoid a general election by seeking re-election from the outgoing National Assembly and provincial assemblies.

Also Tuesday, opposition leaders submitted the formal resignation of 85 of 342 members of the National Assembly of Pakistan [official website] in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the upcoming October 6 election. The Pakistani high court ruled [JURIST report] last week that Musharraf should be allowed to run for another term, but the new lawsuits rely on a recent rule change [press release] by the election commission affecting Musharraf's ability to run which has not yet been directly considered by the court. AP has more. Xinhua has additional coverage.

1:56 PM ET - Musharraf has previously said that he will step down as head of the army should he be re-elected as president, and on Tuesday designated Lieutenant-General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as his successor "after the post falls vacant." Reuters has more.

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