Nawaz Sharif files parliament candidacy

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif filed his candidacy for Parliament in Pakistan but said he may boycott elections if emergency rule isn't lifted.

Sharif, who returned to Pakistan Sunday after seven years of exile, along with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto called for Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to reinstate judges deposed since the president suspended the constitution more than three weeks ago, the Financial Times reported.

Military officials confirmed Monday that Musharraf will step down as Pakistan's army chief and take an oath as a civilian president Thursday.

"On Wednesday there will be a ceremony for handing over the charge of chief of army staff -- and on Thursday he will take the oath as civilian president of Pakistan," said Musharraf's military spokesman, Gen. Rashid Qureshi. "It will mean he has retired from the army but remains, as all presidents do, as supreme commander."

Sharif said the new handpicked Supreme Court couldn't give Musharraf political security.

"Any decision by the present judiciary means nothing," he said. "Taking off his uniform does not mean he is a legitimate president of the country."