 The newly formed Supreme Court of Pakistan, which was appointed after emergency rule was imposed two weeks ago, today dismissed the main outstanding challenges to Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s election for another presidential term, almost certainly ensuring his confirmation as president later this week. Ten judges heard the case today. Within three hours, they dismissed five of six challenges to General Musharraf’s candidacy. “There were five petitions, they have all been dismissed,” said the attorney general, Malik Abdul Qayyum.
| Comes as a surprise, dunnit? I know. It floored me, too. |
“There is only one left, and that will be heard on Thursday,” he said after the proceedings, according to news reports. The sixth petition, which is not a direct challenge to General Musharraf but a complaint to the Election Commission from a candidate who was eliminated from the presidential race, will be heard on Thursday. That is expected to be dismissed, too, paving the way for the court to rubber stamp confirm General Musharraf’s election to another five-year term. |