The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday formally applied to run in the October 6 presidential poll, in a bid for five more years of power that could yet be derailed by the Supreme Court Two opposition candidates also filed nomination papers to stand against Musharraf -- a key US ally who seized power in a 1999 coup -- saying that he cannot be re-elected while he remains army chief. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and several cabinet ministers swept up to the election commission in Islamabad in a convoy of black limousines to lodge the nomination on behalf of Musharraf. Hundreds of riot police and commandos were deployed around the building and at the Supreme Court across the road to guard against protests by the opposition and all key roads were sealed off. The government has defied international condemnation and detained hundreds of opposition workers in raids which started at the weekend to thwart planned demonstrations.