Major Pakistani parties nix vote boycott

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A second leader of a major Pakistani political party announced the group won't boycott January parliamentary elections in Islamabad.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said his Pakistan Muslim League members would participate in the Jan. 8 vote after talks with another former prime minister and opposition leader failed to bring unity on boycotting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's bid for re-election, Washington Post correspondents reported.

Benazir Bhutto said her Pakistan People's Party members would vote and reportedly told Sharif a a boycott would only serve to leave the field wide open for parties loyal to Musharraf to sweep the election, Voice of America said.

Smaller opposition parties have announced a boycott, demanding Musharraf restore Supreme Court judges he ousted when he declared emergency rule on Nov. 3 and suspended the constitution.

At the time, he said it was to put down violent insurgents but his opponents, including Bhutto and Sharif, claim the declaration was a bid to retain power.

Both opposition leaders have said publicly they believe the January vote is being rigged by Musharraf supporters, the report said.