Musharraf clears hurdle in re-election bid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf cleared a hurdle Saturday in his bid to be re-elected but it has yet to be determined if his candidacy is legal.

Musharraf won all but five of the votes cast in parliament's two houses and overwhelmingly took the ballots in the four provincial assemblies that votes for president, the BBC reported.

Musharraf's win will remain in legal limbo pending the Pakistan Supreme Court's ruling on whether Musharraf can stand for re-election in national voting early next year while remaining chief of the army.

Musharraf has said he will resign as army chief but only if he is re-elected president. A ruling from the Supreme Court on his candidacy is not expected before Oct. 17.

Opposition members of parliament abstained or boycotted Saturday's vote, calling it unconstitutional because the assemblies were dominated by Musharraf supporters who gained their posts in allegedly rigged elections, the BBC reported.