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Pakistan Election Campaign Begins Amid Violence

The Elections Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday accepted the nomination papers of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, along with five other candidates, the Pakistani daily The Nation reported.
 
The ECP ruled that Musharraf’s dual role as president and army chief of General Staff could not be held against him in his election bid.
 
Meanwhile, almost 1,000 protestors, including many lawyers, gathered outside the ECP building carrying placards and chanting anti-government slogans. The protestors shouted, "Go Musharraf, Go," and tried to approach the building but were blocked by riot police. At one point the police forces used tear gas and batons against the protestors. Around three-dozen people were wounded and a similar number of demonstrators were arrested.
 
The protestors demanded that Musharraf resign from his post as army chief before joining the presidential election campaign.
 
Among other candidates are Makhdum Amin Fahim from Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Wajihuddin Ahmad, a former judge of Pakistan’s Supreme Court.
 
In the northern district of North Waziristan attacks on security forces wounded five soldiers on Saturday. Armed men, probably affiliated with the Taliban, attacked the Gora Qabrastan military checkpoint with rockets and automatic weapons.