Bhutto to Boycott Vote, Says Corruption Charges Remain

Benazir Bhutto announced today her party would boycott Saturday’s presidential elections, saying power-sharing talks with Pervez Musharraf are “totally stalled." The former PM said Musharraf was also lying about having dropped corruption charges against her, the Guardian reports. “He is not prepared to give a level playing field,” she declared.

Several benchmarks must be met before she’ll re-enter government, including legislation that would allow her to seek a third term as PM. “But none of it can be done for the presidential election,” she said, so her MPs will “most probably” resign before the vote—thereby questioning its legitimacy. Bhutto will return from exile to Pakistan on October 18. (More Benazir Bhutto stories.)