LONDON, Aug 30: The chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party, Benazir Bhutto, has termed the rejection of her nomination papers from Larkana “a part of a game plan” by the Musharraf government to divide the ARD.

In her reaction, she said here on Friday: “I will challenge this decision by the election commission and will wait for the result of my two other nomination papers filed for the October elections”.

She accused the election commission of double standard by, what she said, allowing Nawaz Sharif to contest the elections though he was already convicted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and rejecting her nomination papers on the grounds that she was accused of corruption though not convicted yet.

Ms Bhutto said the only conviction she had was of the absentia which, she said, was a new law and that this conviction was not a crime. “I know that the government wants to divide the opposition parties (and) that’s why my nomination papers were rejected.”

She warned the authorities that the PPP would keep its seat-to-seat adjustment policy with the Pakistan Muslim League (N) despite the rejection of her nomination papers. She said she was glad that Mr Sharif’s nomination papers from Lahore were accepted. Ms Bhutto said she was indirectly in touch with Mr Sharif while her party is in direct contact with the PML (N).