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Musharraf disqualifies absconders, loan defaulters

In another move to keep his political rivals out of the poll process, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has passed a new order disqualifying convicted absconders and loan defaulters from becoming a Member of Parliament.

The new rule, added on Thursday night, disqualifies a candidate if 'he has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for having absconded by a competent court under any law for the time being in force'.

"Anyone who has obtained a loan of over two million rupees in their own name or the names of family members, which stands unpaid for more than one year from the due date, or has had such loan written off, also cannot contest the election," the rule said.

The new rule seems directed at former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharief, who have declared their intention to contest the October general election.

Bhutto has been convicted by an Islamabad court for not appearing before it in response to the summons in a case against her, while Sharief has been accused by the government of defaulting on massive loans taken during his tenure.

Meanwhile, a media report on Thursday said that Bhutto planned to resign as Pakistan People's Party chief and nominate a new leader to prevent the party from being disqualified by the Musharraf government.

Bhutto was recently re-elected as PPP chairperson in defiance of the rules barring political parties from electing convicted persons as leaders.

However, the PPP media office dismissed the report as 'rubbish'. "There should not have been any doubt on any score as she is going to be the next prime minister," it said.

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