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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Court resumes Musharraf hearings | Court resumes Musharraf hearings |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's Supreme Court has resumed hearings on whether President Pervez Musharraf's election earlier this month was constitutional. | Pakistan's Supreme Court has resumed hearings on whether President Pervez Musharraf's election earlier this month was constitutional. |
| The court allowed the poll to go ahead despite petitions challenging his right to run while still army chief. | The court allowed the poll to go ahead despite petitions challenging his right to run while still army chief. |
| But it has not validated the results, adding further to the political uncertainty gripping the country. | But it has not validated the results, adding further to the political uncertainty gripping the country. |
| The hearings come a day before the exiled former PM Benazir Bhutto plans to return to Pakistan. | The hearings come a day before the exiled former PM Benazir Bhutto plans to return to Pakistan. |
| Her return is part of a deal cut with Gen Musharraf allowing her to contest forthcoming parliamentary elections. | Her return is part of a deal cut with Gen Musharraf allowing her to contest forthcoming parliamentary elections. |
| President Musharraf had asked Ms Bhutto to delay her return until the court reaches its verdict. | President Musharraf had asked Ms Bhutto to delay her return until the court reaches its verdict. |
| But Ms Bhutto told journalists in Dubai on Wednesday that she will go ahead with her return on Thursday, ending years of self-imposed exile. | |
| "At this time tomorrow, we'll be on board the plane to Karachi, which is a day that I and all the people in Pakistan who love democracy and believe in fundamental human rights, have been waiting for," she said. | |
| Her Pakistan People's Party is hoping that hundreds of thousands of supporters will greet her in Karachi | |
| Challenges | Challenges |
| Parliament gave Gen Musharraf another term as president by a clear majority on 6 October. | Parliament gave Gen Musharraf another term as president by a clear majority on 6 October. |
| But he has not been able to take the oath of office because the Supreme Court has yet to rule on petitions filed by rival contenders challenging his candidacy. | But he has not been able to take the oath of office because the Supreme Court has yet to rule on petitions filed by rival contenders challenging his candidacy. |
| They argue he was not eligible to run for president while still army chief. | They argue he was not eligible to run for president while still army chief. |
| The court hearings are expected to continue for several days, perhaps more than a week. | The court hearings are expected to continue for several days, perhaps more than a week. |
| KEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential polls held 17 Oct: Supreme Court resumes hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-January | KEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential polls held 17 Oct: Supreme Court resumes hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-January |
| Most analysts do not expect the court to disqualify Gen Musharraf at this stage, but if it does the political crisis in Pakistan could deepen. | Most analysts do not expect the court to disqualify Gen Musharraf at this stage, but if it does the political crisis in Pakistan could deepen. |
| There are fears the general might invoke emergency measures to stay in power. | There are fears the general might invoke emergency measures to stay in power. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says Gen Musharraf appears to have been rattled by the Supreme Court which has ruled against the government several times in recent months. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says Gen Musharraf appears to have been rattled by the Supreme Court which has ruled against the government several times in recent months. |
| Under a deal, Gen Musharraf has dropped corruption charges against Ms Bhutto - a stride towards an expected power-sharing arrangement. | Under a deal, Gen Musharraf has dropped corruption charges against Ms Bhutto - a stride towards an expected power-sharing arrangement. |
| Gen Musharraf won all but five of the votes cast in parliament's two houses and swept the ballots in the four provincial assemblies on 6 October. | Gen Musharraf won all but five of the votes cast in parliament's two houses and swept the ballots in the four provincial assemblies on 6 October. |
| Opposition MPs abstained or boycotted the vote, calling it unconstitutional. | Opposition MPs abstained or boycotted the vote, calling it unconstitutional. |
| Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months, at the same time as the security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taleban militants opposed to Gen Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror". | Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months, at the same time as the security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taleban militants opposed to Gen Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror". |