ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Former Pakistani leader Benzair Bhutto's party said Monday it had created a new faction without her as head to contest the October elections.
Bhutto will remain head of the Pakistan People's Party, but would not be part of the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians faction, the party announced after a more than 4-hour meting.
Last week, Pakistan's military government issued a new law to bar political parties led by convicts to take part in the October election. Bhutto, a two-time elected prime minister, has been convicted in two corruption cases.
She lives in self-imposed exile in London and the United Arab Emirates, but has vowed to return home to contest the elections.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a senior PPP member, heads the new faction. Raja Pervez Ashraf was named secretary general.
PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the new faction's aim would be to build a progressive and democratic society in accordance with the principles, philosophies and politics of Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Bhutto and her father, former President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
He said Bhutto would continue to be the political guide of the new grouping though she won't hold an office in it.
"The PPP Parliamentarians group members will enjoy the blessings of Benazir Bhutto and will seek inspiration from her," he said.
He alleged last week's law was specifically designed to prevent Bhutto from contesting elections. He said the PPP would challenge the before the High Court.
"This course would allow Benazir Bhutto and the PPP to follow the judicial relief path while simultaneously meeting the requirements of law," he said.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's new law also successfully prevented another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, from contesting the elections. Musharraf deposed Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999.
Sharif, who was exiled to Saudi Arabia, relinquished the leadership of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz last week, to make place for his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif.
