Pakistani Court Deals Musharraf a Setback
Pakistan's election can go ahead on Saturday, the country's Supreme Court has ruled, but even if he gets the most votes, whether Gen. Pervez Musharraf can remain president is still up in the air. The BBC reports that no winner can be declared in the election until the court has ruled on the constitutionality of Musharraf standing for re-election while still head of the army. (Musharraf has promised to quit his army post if he wins.)
"The bench has unanimously resolved and directed that the election process should proceed as per the schedule announced by the chief election commissioner," chief judge Javed Iqbal said, the AFP news agency reports."But final notification of the returning candidate will not be issued until the decision of this petition for which the process is to begin from 17 October."
The ruling comes just as all the pieces had seemed to be falling into place for the general. He appeared to have reached a deal with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto that would see corruption charges against her dropped and allow her to take part in a power-sharing government that would increase Musharraf's credibility.
9:30 AM ET | 10- 5-2007 | permalink
