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Benazir moves court against new poll laws

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Aug. 15. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir Bhutto, today challenged the new laws framed by the Musharraf Government, barring her contesting the October general elections.

Ms. Bhutto, who is on a self-imposed exile in Dubai, through her lawyers, has filed a constitutional petition in the Sind High Court. It urged the court to declare all the laws promulgated by the military regime specifically to keep her out of electoral politics as ultra vires of the provisions of the Constitution.

The new rules formulated by the Musharraf regime, compelled the PPP to float a new entity, PPP Parliamentarians, to stay in the fray for the general elections.

Two days ago, the Election Commission conferred recognition to the new wing of PPP under the chairmanship of senior party leader, Makhdoom Fahim. One of the new poll laws bars a person from being a candidate for the post of the Prime Minister for the third time.

The other law that has been criticised by the party relates to amendments in the Political Parties Act that bar a person, who is declared as a proclaimed offender by a court for not responding to its summons, from being a candidate in any election.

The petition has urged the High Court to prevent the Government from refusing to accept her nomination papers as candidate for the October elections besides `any other relief deemed just and appropriate by the Court'.

Ms. Bhutto has repeatedly asserted in recent weeks that she would return to Pakistan before the polls and contest.

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