Pakistan's former governing party has announced it will boycott next week's presidential vote.
Senator Raza Rabbani, the presidential candidate for the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party, said that the move was aimed at protesting the election being brought forward without consultation.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on July 24 ordered the election be held on July 30 instead of August 6, the date the election commission first scheduled for the vote.
Rabbani said the Supreme Court did not "provide us an opportunity to present our point of view [and] a unilateral decision was made."
Provincial and national parliaments select Pakistan's president.
Incumbent Asif Ali Zardari is not seeking a second term because his Pakistan Peoples Party lacks enough lawmakers to win him reelection.
The candidate for Pakistan's ruling Muslim League-Nawaz party, Mamnoon Hussain, is expected to win.
Senator Raza Rabbani, the presidential candidate for the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party, said that the move was aimed at protesting the election being brought forward without consultation.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on July 24 ordered the election be held on July 30 instead of August 6, the date the election commission first scheduled for the vote.
Rabbani said the Supreme Court did not "provide us an opportunity to present our point of view [and] a unilateral decision was made."
Provincial and national parliaments select Pakistan's president.
Incumbent Asif Ali Zardari is not seeking a second term because his Pakistan Peoples Party lacks enough lawmakers to win him reelection.
The candidate for Pakistan's ruling Muslim League-Nawaz party, Mamnoon Hussain, is expected to win.
