Pakistani Election Commission bars Nawaz Sharif from poll

[Tiki Tam Tam]

There are two issues that makes the disqualification of NS a bit of stink in so far as the election fairness is concerned.

Of course, all sorts of legal niceties can be quoted, but the issue still appears a wee bit skewed.

While NS has not been enthusiastic about the US or its WoT, BB has gone overboard to join the WoT bandwagon.

The fact that NS was immediately returned to Saudi Arabia when he tried to enter Pakistan the first time while BB was allowed a tumultuous reception leaves much to be read between the lines. More so, when Musharraf warned her not to come.

If NS is a crook, so is BB.

BB chugs through and NS has a whole lot of impediments thrown his way.

While it really does not matter as to who wins the election, but the way NS is having obstacles put along his way, does not give the impression that the election will be fair since, on the other hand, the path is being cleared for BB to have a runaway victory.

However, since elections depend on the vote of the people, who knows that this may actually encourage a backlash and NS gets a sympathy vote.

 

[niaz]

There is a technical question:

Any candidate covicted by any court is automatically disqualified. Nawaz Sharif was convicted and sentenced 20 years in prison.

However, he was pardonned by the President ( Rafiq Tarrar) at the recommendation of Musharraf when he agreed to stay out of Pakistan for 10 years. Does the presidential pardon wash away the conviction???

I suppose a slick lawyer should be able to argue successfully and get Election Commission to approve the nomination papers of the two brothers in due course.

 

[Majnun]

Musharraf has nothing to do with the election commission so enough with the conspiracy theories. Nawaz Sharif and Bhutto are both criminals but Nawaz Sharif who "like to keep a low profile" so that he can never be blamed and can claim non-involvement didn't challenge the charges. He just cheated his way around most of them. He was talking of boycotting the elections but because Benazir Bhutto wasn't he felt it safer to file his papers and, if rejected, to say he wanted to boycott the elections.