Pakistan politics testy ahead of Presidential vote

PAKISTAN: Pakistan prosecutors have confirmed they are pressing ahead with corruption cases against opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, a move his supporters said was aimed at further sidelining Sharif’s party ahead of presidential elections.

Members of the main governing Pakistan People’s Party insisted the judicial proceedings had nothing to do with them.

But Tuesday’s news threatened to further sour the main ruling party’s relations with Sharif, a popular figure whose party holds the second-largest number of seats in parliament and which was just days ago part of the ruling coalition.

Asif Ali Zardari, head of the Pakistan People’s Party and widower of slain ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, is expected to easily win the presidency in Saturday’s vote by lawmakers. Sharif’s party is fielding a retired judge as its candidate.

The U.S. is keenly awaiting the outcome of the election in Pakistan, a country it considers crucial in the fight against Islamic extremism.

ISLAMABAD, Wednesday,

AP