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December 3, 2007

Pakistan's Election Commission Bars Sharif Candidacy
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A73D2B:A6F02AD83191E1605E2D1F1AE936A62C7F0EB4B66EA3A89D& Top election
official says Nawaz Sharif's nomination papers rejected because of
past criminal convictions Pakistan's election commission has rejected
the nomination papers of opposition leader Nawaz Sharif for next
month's parliamentary elections.







Nawaz Sharif, center, is greeted by supporters upon arrival in
Islamabad, 03 Dec 2007A top election official in the city of Lahore
said Monday that Mr. Sharif's nomination papers were rejected because
of past criminal convictions.

The announcement came ahead of a planned meeting between former prime
ministers Sharif and Benazir Bhutto to discuss the elections, which
Mr. Sharif has said he would boycott.

Ms. Bhutto has said her supporters will take part in the January 8
elections "under protest," because of the emergency decrees President
Pervez Musharraf issued a month ago. However, Mr. Sharif has said his
party will not take part in the elections unless judges that had been
removed are reinstated.

Separately, Mr. Musharraf will meet with visiting Turkish President
Abdullah Gul Monday to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues.

The Turkish president also is expected to meet with leaders of
Pakistan's political parties. Today is the second and final day of his
visit marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between Turkey and
Pakistan.

Mr. Gul is the first foreign head of state to travel to Pakistan since
Mr. Musharraf imposed emergency rule a month ago.

President Musharraf has promised to lift emergency rule on December
16. He has relinquished his role as military chief and was sworn in
Thursday for a second five-year term as president.


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