The Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled yesterday that President Musharraf could be re-elected while army chief. The decision is a severe setback for an opposition campaign to restore civilian democratic rule.

Six of the judges on a nine-member bench dismissed legal challenges against General Musharraf holding both posts and standing in an election on October 6.

“These petitions are held to be non-maintainable,” Rana Bhagwandas, the presiding judge, announced to a cavernous marble and wood-panelled courtroom packed with lawyers, politicians and journalists.

Opposition leaders and lawyers jeered and pumped their fists in the air after the announcement, climbing on to chairs and chanting “Shame! Shame!” and “Go, Musharraf, go!” Some accused General Musharraf, a key US ally in the War on Terror who seized power in a coup in 1999, of having intimidated the judges into ruling in his favour.

Bhutto was killed by bomb blast

The team from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command have backed the claim that Benazir Bhutto was not shot

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BACKGROUND

• Pakistan in turmoil as ‘martial law’ imposed

• Bhutto escapes as bombers kill 126

• Timeline: Pakistan's period of turmoil

• The man out to oust a President

• Internal crisis gives Pakistan reason for hope

Related Links

• Top Pakistan court to decide Musharraf's fate

• Musharraf to quit army post

• Musharraf reels after US rebuke

Outside, about a hundred supporters of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party chanted anti-Musharraf slogans, blocked a main road and pelted the court’s front gate with tomatoes and rotten eggs. But they were easily outnumbered by heavily armed riot police who have cordoned off most of the centre of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, for the past few days.

Ali Ahmad Kurd, a leader of the lawyers’ movement that nominated Justice Ahmed, called for protests today against the court’s decision. “We condemn this in the strongest terms,” he told The Times. “We are sure there was political pressure on the judges.” Javed Hashmi, acting leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party, said that his MPs would resign from parliament to deny the presidential election any legitimacy. “The court’s decision is unconstitutional,” he said.

The ruling removes the main obstacle to General Musharraf’s plans to cling to power despite a significant slump in popularity since his failed attempt to dismiss the Chief Justice in March. It does not, however, mean an end to a political crisis that American and British officials fear is distracting General Musharraf from a campaign against the Taleban and al-Qaeda militants on the Afghan border.

“The war is not over,” said Munir Malik, head of the Supreme Court Bar Association. “It was disappointing. But we will be back.”

General Musharraf has promised to take off his military uniform after he is re-elected next Saturday by the national and provincial legislatures, where his supporters have a majority.

His opponents argued in vain that his dual role was unconstitutional and ruled him out of the election, which they say should take place only after the next parliamentary polls, due by mid-January.

“Justice triumphs,” said Rashid Quereshi, General Musharraf’s spokesman, after the court ruling.

Shaukat Aziz, the Prime Minister, said: “Today Pakistan has crossed an important, indeed critical, milestone in its march towards true democracy.”

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