By DPA
Islamabad : The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday dismissed the main petitions challenging the legitimacy of President Pervez Musharraf’s Oct 6 re-election, the Dawn News channel reported.
Two petitions lodged by a retired judge and a senior member of Benazir Bhutto’s opposition Pakistan Peoples Party were struck down together with other petitions filed by individuals seeking to have Musharraf’s candidacy cancelled.
The court was due Thursday to rule on one last petition, described by the channel as a “minor hurdle” and the rejection of which would clear the way for the general to be sworn-in for a further five-year term.
After Musharraf’s imposition of emergency rule Nov 3, the Supreme Court was dissolved and reconstituted with judges viewed as being more sympathetic to the re-election of the Musharraf.
His legal challengers have argued that a serving officer is ineligible to run for president.
The general is under intense pressure from domestic opponents and the US to give up his army position before starting another term, but Musharraf said that he is legally unable to do so before the court confirms his election victory.