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OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #4064/01 2631141
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201141Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1843
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7535
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1787
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 7393
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 3461
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 1923
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2983
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 004064 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D   C O P Y   (602 TO 702, PARA 1) 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: A PRIMER 
 
REF: ISLAMABAD 4024 
 
ISLAMABAD 00004064  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) On September 20, Pakistan's Election Commission 
announced that the presidential election will be held on 
October 6.  This cable outlines the process through which 
President Musharraf plans to be re-elected. 
 
 
WHEN WILL THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OCCUR? 
 
-- On October 6. 
 
 
WHO CAN NOMINATE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES? 
 
-- Any member of the Senate, National Assembly, or the four 
Provincial Assemblies can nominate candidates for President. 
The nomination must be seconded by another member and 
consented to, in writing, by the candidate.  The Chief 
Election Commissioner oversees the presidential election 
process.  Nomination papers must be filed by September 27. 
 
 
WHO CAN QUALIFY AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE? 
 
-- Presidential candidates must be Muslims of at least 45 
years of age and meet the qualifications to become a member 
of the National Assembly. 
 
 
WHO DECIDES IF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE QUALIFIED? 
 
-- The Chief Election Commissioner makes the final 
qualification decision during a day of "scrutiny."  The 
Election Commission recently revised its rules to allow civil 
servants (like President Musharraf, who is still serving as 
Chief of Army Staff) to contest as candidates, but the 
Supreme Court ultimately has the power to overrule the 
Commissioner's decisions. 
 
 
WHAT IF ONLY ONE CANDIDATE QUALIFIES? IS THERE STILL AN 
ELECTION? 
 
-- If the Chief Election Commissioner determines during his 
scrutiny that there is only one qualified candidate, he 
declares the candidate as President immediately.  If there is 
more than one candidate after the deadline for candidates 
withdrawals has passed, the Chief Election Commissioner 
proceeds with the election. 
 
 
WHO VOTES FOR THE PRESIDENT? 
 
-- Members of the Senate (100), National Assembly (342), and 
the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab (371), Sindh (168), 
Balochistan (65), and the Northwest Frontier Province (124). 
 
-- Through a complex system of weighted voting in the 
Provincial Assemblies, up to 702 votes can be cast for 
president. 
 
 
WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON ELECTION DAY? 
 
-- The Senate, National Assembly, and four Provincial 
Assemblies each hold secret ballots.  After the poll, ballots 
are returned to the Chief Election Commissioner, who counts 
the votes and declares the winner. 
 
 
WHAT IF THE OPPOSITION RESIGNS FROM THE NATIONAL AND/OR 
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES? CAN THERE STILL BE A PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION? 
 
-- Since there is no constitutional provision for delaying 
presidential elections due to resignations, abstentions, or 
even for the dissolution of Provincial Assemblies, the effect 
of a potential opposition walkout would be a political, not a 
procedural, problem. 
 
 
 
ISLAMABAD 00004064  002 OF 002 
 
 
RESULTS 
 
-- The candidate with a simple majority wins. 
 
 
CAN THE RESULTS OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BE CHALLENGED? 
 
-- Article 41(6) of the Constitution states that "The 
validity of the election of the president shall not be called 
in question by or before any court of other authority;" 
however, the Supreme Court could rule that President 
Musharraf is not eligible to run for president. 
 
 
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE OVER? 
 
-- The National Assembly's five-year term expires on November 
¶15.  The Constitution calls for general elections to be 
within 60 days (by January 15, 2008).  After the National 
Assembly's term expires, the President will appoint a 
caretaker cabinet to oversee the government until general 
elections are held and new assemblies have taken office early 
next year. 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) Comment: Now that the election schedule has been 
announced, the opposition parties will have to decide if they 
will field contesting candidates or boycott the exercise 
entirely.  Either way, as long as the national ruling 
coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League sticks by 
President Musharraf, he will easily win.  However, the 
Supreme Court remains a wild card.  Decisions in pending 
cases challenging Musharraf's right to run for office are 
expected as early as this week (reftel).  End Comment. 
PATTERSON