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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Court upholds Musharraf election | Court upholds Musharraf election |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's new Supreme Court has - as expected - dismissed the final legal challenge to the recent re-election of President Pervez Musharraf. | Pakistan's new Supreme Court has - as expected - dismissed the final legal challenge to the recent re-election of President Pervez Musharraf. |
| General Musharraf's opponents had argued that his election was illegal because he was still head of the army. | General Musharraf's opponents had argued that his election was illegal because he was still head of the army. |
| Most of the challenges were rejected earlier this week. | Most of the challenges were rejected earlier this week. |
| The move clears the way for General Musharraf to stand down as army chief, as promised, and be sworn in as a civilian leader. | |
| He is widely believed to have declared a state of emergency earlier this month in order to purge the Supreme Court that he suspected was about to rule against his re-election, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad. | He is widely believed to have declared a state of emergency earlier this month in order to purge the Supreme Court that he suspected was about to rule against his re-election, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad. |
| Final challenge | Final challenge |
| "Dismissed," Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar said in court after hearing the petition, reports Reuters news agency. | |
| Gen Musharraf's top legal adviser, Sharifuddin Pirzada, told Reuters there was now no legal obstacle to his re-election. | |
| "Now the court has to give us this in writing," the agency quoted him as saying. | |
| The verdict was expected to go in Gen Musharraf's favour since he has appointed new judges to the bench who are considered more loyal. | |
| They have already dismissed the main petitions. | They have already dismissed the main petitions. |
| President Musharraf has still not lifted emergency rule, and insists that elections, which are due to be held in January, can take place under the emergency decree. | |
| But Western allies have insisted he return the country to civilian rule. | But Western allies have insisted he return the country to civilian rule. |
| Pakistan has asked the Commonwealth, whose leaders are meeting in Uganda, to delay its decision on whether the country should be suspended. The decision was provisionally expected on Thursday. | Pakistan has asked the Commonwealth, whose leaders are meeting in Uganda, to delay its decision on whether the country should be suspended. The decision was provisionally expected on Thursday. |
| Meanwhile, President Musharraf has also amended the constitution to prevent future legal challenges to his actions. | Meanwhile, President Musharraf has also amended the constitution to prevent future legal challenges to his actions. |