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Two more Benazir papers rejected

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Sept. 1. Election authorities in Pakistan today rejected the nomination papers of the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, for two more seats leaving her with little option but to knock on the doors of the judiciary and join hands with the rest of the parties opposed to the Musharraf regime to launch a `political struggle'.

Signs of emergence of a formidable opposition to the manner in which the military regime was going about the October general elections were evident on Saturday, when the former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, decided to withdraw from the race in solidarity with Ms. Bhutto.

What is more significant was the assertion by Mr. Sharif that he has decided to join hands with all the `democratic forces' including Ms. Bhutto to fight against the Musharraf regime. Much to the surprise of observers Mr. Sharif, seen as a protégé of the military till Gen. Musharraf ousted him in the bloodless coup in October 1999, has talked about the `grave mistakes' of the Generals in the past and the need for the present regime to learn from them.

The growing polarisation between the Musharraf regime and the mainstream political parties, evident since the controversial April 30 presidential referendum, certainly does not augur well for political stability. Reports from the Sind province, considered to be the forte of the Bhutto family, suggest that the decision of the election authorities has not gone down well with the people.

It is not a coincidence that the Pakistan Information Minister, Nisar Memon, accused Ms. Bhutto of playing a `provincial' card and stoking fires. The statement of Mr. Sharif that he has chosen to stay out of the electoral race in solidarity with the people of Sind has not gone unnoticed.

It is difficult to guess what shape events would take in the days and weeks to come. But it is clear that the battle lines have been drawn between the mainstream parties and the Musharraf Government on the very first day the Government lifted the ban on `political activities'.

Lifting of the ban has come with several conditionalities.

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