PAKISTAN: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz welcomes the Supreme Court decision to clear the way for Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's bid for re-election/Lawyers protested the verdict

While Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz welcomes the Supreme Court decision to clear the way for Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's bid for re-election, lawyers protested the verdict. In Karachi, supporters of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto celebrate her impending homecoming. Some were angry, some were relieved. Pakistanis were polarised on Friday (September 28) by a Supreme Court decision that will allow President Pervez Musharraf to run for re-election next week while still being army chief. General Musharraf, who came to power in a bloodless coup eight years ago, has promised to quit his army post once he is re-elected in a vote set for October 6, and be sworn in as a civilian president as part of a transition to fuller democracy. Many Pakistanis, impatient to see the army withdraw from political life, were disappointed that the country's top court, in a split decision, dismissed opposition parties' legal challenges to Musharraf's plan to get a new mandate. The court has been regarded as hostile to Musharraf since his unsuccessful attempt to oust the Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in March, but Friday's decision convinced some people that judges could still be swayed by the establishment. There was anger among lawyers who have literally been on the streets against Musharraf for months. Hundreds were back Thursday, beating their chests in protest of the court's decision. Munir A. Malik, one of the lawyers who had spearheaded the anti-government campaign both inside and outside the court, said there was a "long road" ahead. "This was a setback. It was a disappointment. But it's a long road; it's a war; this was one minor battle," Malik said. Musharraf, whose main support base remains the army, has seen his popularity plummet this year, but he still commands loyalty from people fearful that without him the country will slide into chaos and economic gains made during his tenure will be lost. "We welcome the Supreme Court's decision, and we thank Allah that because of this decision their will be continuity (of policies) in the country. The presidential election process which is already underway will now be able to move forward," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told a news conference. Meantime, in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, dozens of supporters and party workers of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto held a boat rally to show their support ahead of her return to the country next month after more than eight years in exile. Party officials have said there were no legal constraints for Bhutto's return unlike former premier Nawaz Sharif who was expelled earlier this week. Bhutto has vowed to return despite the fact the Pakistani government announced she must face corruption charges. She has, nevertheless, reportedly been in talks with President Pervez Musharraf about the chance of sharing power after a general election.

ITN Source | September 29, 2007

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