Pak SC allows elections today but keeps General guessing on verdict

Pakistan’s supreme court today kept the fate of President Pervez Musharraf’s re-election bid in its hands by deciding...

Pakistan’s supreme court today kept the fate of President Pervez Musharraf’s re-election bid in its hands by deciding that elections could be held tomorrow but a winner cannot be declared until it rules if Musharraf was eligible to stand.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 17.

General Musharraf is sure to win the vote in parliament and the country’s four provincial assemblies. But the court’s decision to keep open a possibility of disqualification could weaken his position and deepen a sense of uncertainty in the country.

Delivering the ruling, judge Javed Iqbal said the court wanted more time to consider the merits of last-gasp opposition challenges to Musharraf running while still army chief. Rivals were at least relieved that Musharraf won’t be awarded victory on Saturday, even though they wanted the vote postponed.

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The case against the general is being heard by a bench of 10 judges, who are believed to be less receptive to the government than a bench that dismissed challenges to Musharraf’s candidacy a week ago. Musharraf’s current term of office is due to end on November 15, and he has vowed to quit the army if elected and be sworn in as a civilian leader eight years after taking power in a coup that ended a decade of civilian rule with Pakistan virtually bankrupt.

The uniform is important to Musharraf because as long as he remains army chief he could declare emergency rule or martial law — options he has said he won’t take. The setback for Musharraf came after a week in which several pieces needed to secure his future appeared to fall into place, specially through a likely deal with Benazir Bhutto.