'Disqualified' Mubarak-era PM allowed back into Egypt's presidential race

Cairo, Apr 26 (ANI): Egypt's election commission has reinstated former premier, Ahmed Shafiq as a contender in the country's upcoming presidential election.

Shafiq was earlier disqualified after the Egyptian authorities approved a law that bans senior officials from the Mubarak's regime from running for office.

On Wednesday, the commission, however, upheld Shafiq's appeal.

"The decision to accept my client's appeal proves that the electoral committee functions as an independent body according to the rule of law," the report quoted Shafiq's lawyer, Shawqi Sayyid, as saying.

Shafiq was the last prime minister to serve under Mubarak, who was ousted by an uprising against his rule in February last year.

The law under which Shafiq was originally disqualified bars from the presidency anyone who served in senior positions in President Hosni Mubarak-led government.

According to the report, Shafiq, in his appeal, challenged the measure's constitutionality and the commission has now referred the law to Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court. (ANI)