ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Election Commission says the presidential election will take place on October 6, despite pending legal challenges to President Pervez Musharraf’s re-election bid.

Thursday’s announcement by the election commission, whose head was appointed by Mr. Musharraf, ignores several petitions currently before the Supreme Court challenging his eligibility to seek re-election.

Opponents have argued that the president is forbidden by law to hold high military position. Mr. Musharraf is also head of the army, and says he will retire from that post only if and when he wins re-election to the presidency.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed is the leader of the MMA, one of the political groups challenging Mr. Musharraf’s candidacy in court. He argues Mr. Musharraf has already served the allowed two terms - once when he declared himself president after leading a 1999 military coup, and later when his declaration was made legitimate through a referendum.

Ahmed says since Mr. Musharraf has already served two terms in office, the constitution says he cannot serve another term. He says if Mr. Musharraf is allowed to run, opposition party legislators will resign.

Source:  VOA News