By NNN-PTI/APP
Islamabad : Pakistan Supreme Court Friday allowed President Pervez Musharraf to contest Presidential elections while remaining as army chief, dismissing a raft of petitions by the opposition against his re-election bid while in uniform.
In a split 6-3 verdict, a nine-member bench held that the General, who filed his nomination papers yesterday, can contest the Oct 6 elections in his bid to seek another five-year term.
Six judges supported the dismissal of petitions challenging Musharraf’s holding of dual office and his plans to get re-elected while three other judges including Justice Rana Bhagwan Das, who headed the bench, held the petitions were maintainable.
The Spokesman for the President Maj. Gen. (retd) Rashid Qureshi Friday said the President respects and honours the judgement of the Supreme Court.
The President’s spokesman when asked for his reaction over the Supreme Court decision told APP “the President respects and honours the judgement of the Supreme Court – as always.”
The spokesman to the President when asked about his comments said “justice triumphs.”
Commenting on the decision, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz termed the decision as an important milestone in country’s journey towards democracy.
“Let us all accept this landmark judgment with grace and dignity and move on with the electoral process in a mature and dignified manner that would make Pakistan proud,” Prime Minister Aziz said in a statement issued here.
The Prime Minister said the decision would be welcomed by all those who believed in the supremacy of the Constitution and law, and also want Pakistan to move ahead on the democratic course which began on October 2002.
He said the judgment would put to rest any ambiguity and questions that were being raised regarding the eligibility and qualification of President General Pervez Musharraf for contesting the election from the current Assemblies.
He said it was for the first time in country’s political history that the elected national and provincial assemblies were completing their terms and a new electoral process had just begun.
“This is a huge achievement for a country where elected governments have never lived their elected life span,” he said.
Prime Minister Aziz said it was a collective responsibility of all political parties, civil society and every Pakistani to ensure that the forthcoming elections are held in harmony and peace, the and transfer of power takes place in a fair and transparent manner.
He said Pakistan was visualized by our founding fathers not only democratic and progressive Islamic state, but also economically strong and politically stable.