Pakistani court to rule on Musharraf eligibility
A Pakistani Supreme Court stacked with judges loyal to President Gen. Pervez Musharraf prepared for a final ruling today on whether the general is eligible to be president.
The court, which Gen. Musharraf purged of independent-minded judges after he suspended the constitution on November 3, was widely expected to clear a last legal hurdle for Gen. Musharraf to embark on a new five-year term.
It was also considering challenges to the state of emergency Musharraf declared more than two weeks ago.
The attorney general said yesterday that Gen. Musharraf was expected to step down as army chief by the weekend if the Supreme Court validates his victory in a controversial October 6 presidential vote.
However, it is still not clear whether Gen. Musharraf will lift the state of emergency, despite international pressure, including from the United States, his key backer.
Last night, Gen. Musharraf decreed new amendments to the constitution using powers he said he has under the emergency.
One of the amendments states that his decisions cannot be challenged by any court and will be considered "always to have been validly made".
Also yesterday, the government freed more jailed political activists, including two of Gen. Musharraf's key opponents.
Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said that Musharraf would quickly fulfil his promise to quit his army post and be sworn in for a new five-year presidential term as a civilian.
"It may happen on Saturday ... I know the president, and he will honour his commitment," Qayyum said.
Law Minister Afzal Hayder announced on state television yesterday that the government had released 5,634 lawyers and political party members. He said 623 people remained in custody, but that they would be let go soon.
Those freed included Imran Khan, a former cricket star who has become a firebrand in the opposition to Gen. Musharraf's rule.
Mr Khan said he would continue a hunger strike begun in custody and boycott the election in the hope of forcing Gen. Musharraf to give up all power.
"Musharraf is staging a drama to deceive America and the West whom he scared (by saying) that without him the nuclear bomb will get into extremist hands," Mr Khan told reporters.
Some people have voiced concerns that the crisis could undermine the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, but the top US military officer said this week that there were no signs of that.
Also freed was Javed Hashmi, acting president of the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Gen Musharraf's most dogged foe.
In a phone interview with the AP, Mr Hashmi called for opposition parties to boycott the January 8 parliamentary elections to avoid giving credibility to Gen. Musharraf.
Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said it was too soon for the party to express any opinion on the possibility Gen Musharraf might give up his powerful post as chief of the army.
"President Musharraf has made such promises before the nation and the international community in the past as well, and we will comment when he actually steps down as the army chief," Mr Babar said.
