Pakistan's Sharif fields former chief justice for Presidency
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Aug 25, IRNA
Pakistan-Presidential Candidate
Pakistan former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday fielded a former chief justice of the Supreme Court to run for the office of the country's President.
Justice retired Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui will challenge Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto, in the Presidential elections due on September 6th.
Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, born on December 1, 1937, was Chief Justice of Pakistan during the 1999 military coup by the then General Pervez Musharraf.
He defied the request made by Musharraf to take a new oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO), Musharraf had imposed when he had sacked the government of Nawaz Sharif.
After his refusal to accept Musharraf's demand of new oath, he was forced to step down from his position.
"Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui does not belong to any party, he had refused to take oath under the provisional constitutional order when Musharraf imposed dictatorship, " Nawaz Sharif told a news conference.
"He is a great Pakistani. He is above party politics. I hope that many parliamentarians will vote for him," Sharif insisted.
"Saeeduzzaman had refused to bow before dictatorship. Now time has come to pay back to such personalities," Sharif said.
Saeeduzzaman on the occasion thanked Sharif for nominating him for the prestigious position.
"I am thankful for my nomination," Saeeduzzaman said.
Sharif said that despite quitting the ruling coalition, his party will not dislodge the government but will play positive role of opposition in the parliament.
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