ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 : The Acting Secretary General of Pakistan People‘s Party, Mian Raza Rabbani, has apprised the United Nations about the efforts of military regime to prevent the chairperson of PPP Benazir Bhutto from contesting elections.

Mr Rabbani, in a letter addressed to the UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mr Dato‘ Param Cumaraswamy, has written: “Specific laws were passed by military dictator Musharraf to prevent Ms Bhutto from contesting the forthcoming elections, which she is constitutionally permitted to contest.

One such law was the absentee law passed by decree by Gen Musharraf with retrospective effect.

Her defence attorney has filed a petition before the Lahore High Court stating that she was present with a duly authorized power of attorney. The outcome of the petition is still awaited.