Pakistani Officials Reject Ex-Premier Bhutto’s Candidacy

Election officials today rejected a bid by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to run in parliamentary elections, a day after they certified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as a candidate despite a government ban on his return from exile in Saudi Arabia.

Officials in Bhutto’s hometown of Larkana, in southern Pakistan, rejected her petition to run for a seat on the National Assembly, saying she is prohibited from running under national laws that ban from elections those who have been convicted of a crime. Bhutto, who lives in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was convicted last month of corruption and sentenced to three years in prison.

Bhutto’s lawyer said he would appeal the election commission’s decision.

Officials are scheduled to rule Saturday on Bhutto’s bids for two other seats. Pakistani politicians commonly run in several constituencies.

Sharif’s candidacy, in contrast to Bhutto’s, was approved even though he had been sentenced to life imprisonment on hijacking and terrorism charges after being overthrown by the current president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, in a bloodless military coup in October 1999.

In December 2000, he was released in exchange for a promise that neither he nor 25 family members would return for 10 years.

All were banned from participating in Pakistani politics under the deal.

Government officials said Thursday they would not challenge the independent election commission’s decision, but ruled out any chance that Sharif would run.

New laws enacted by Musharraf prohibit from running people who have been convicted and premiers who have served twice before.

Bhutto was convicted in absentia on corruption charges and officials say there are 12 additional cases against her outstanding. Musharraf has said Bhutto, unlike Sharif, is free to return to Pakistan but that she would face arrest.

In a series of recent appearances and public statements, Bhutto has vowed to return to run in the elections.