Lawyers field retired judge for Pak prez election

Islamabad, Sep 24: Pakistan's lawyers community today fielded retired Supreme Court judge Wajiduddin Ahmad as a candidate for the presidential election due on October 6.

Mr Ahmad is the only candidate so far who will face military ruler General Pervez Musharraf in the presidential election.

President Musharraf, who ousted Nawaz Sharif's government in a bloodless coup in 1999, legitimised his presidency by a parliamentary vote in December 2003 almost a year-and-a-half after getting himself elected through a referendum in 2002.

He announced last week that if elected for the second term he would relinquish office of the Army chief soon after election but before taking oath of office of the President for the next term.

''Lawyers had nominated Ahmad as for the next presidential election,'' President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Munir A Malik told reporters in Islamabad.

Mr Malik added that Mr Ahmad is a very repsected person and will be their candidate.

However, he did not disclose who would propose or second name of Mr Ahmad, who retired as judge of the Supreme Court a few years ago.

UNI