PAKISTAN: Pakistan's Supreme Court begins hearing petitions against General Pervez Musharraf's dual offices

The Supreme Court of Pakistan begins hearing six petitions against General Pervez Musharraf's bid to stand for another presidential term and for holding offices of president and army chief at the same time. The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday (September 17) took up six challenges from President Pervez Musharraf's opponents against his bid for re-election and keeping the two offices of president and army chief. U.S. ally Musharraf has held the post of army chief since he seized power in a military coup in 1999, despite calls from the opposition to quit the dual office. The Supreme Court case against him has been led by opponents including the Jamaat-e-Islami religious party, cricketer-turn-politician Imran Khan and a lawyers' forum. Musharraf's term as president expires on Nov. 15. He also has to doff his uniform before the end of the year. Before quitting the army, Musharraf plans to seek another five-year term as president from the sitting parliament by Oct. 15. The most significant threat to the beleaguered President's re-election plans could come from a Supreme Court regarded as hostile after the general's ill-fated attempt to fire the chief justice. Akram Sheikh, an Islamic party lawyer, told the court the case was about the future of the country and its 160 million people. "On this occasion, we appeal to the entire nation to join us like they did during the case of the Chief Justice and come out onto the streets. It is not possible to put an end to such a powerful dictatorship and military tyranny only through the Supreme Court or through a few judges. To put an end to this tyranny we need public mobilization and determination," Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami told reporters after the first day's hearing. "Long live the Islamic revolution!" chanted dozens of Jamaat-e-Islami supporters who had assembled at the apex court premises. The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday (September 18). Meanwhile, a senior ruling party official said Musharraf plans to quit as army chief to become a civilian leader, removing a main objection to his proposed re-election in October. "I expect that after his re-election by the parliament the president would take off his uniform and would Inshallah (God Willing) be sworn in as a civilian president come November 15, 2007," Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), said. His acquiescence could be seen as a victory for Benazir Bhutto, who has said that any power-sharing arrangement with Musharraf will depend, among other things, on him becoming a civilian president. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party announced on Friday (September 14) the two-time former prime minister will return to Pakistan on October 18, ending more than eight years of self-exile. Giving up the army role would undoubtedly dilute Musharraf's power in a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half the 60 years since it was founded. It will also be a wrench for the life-long soldier who described his uniform as a "second skin", but aides say he has been reconciled to quitting the army for months.

ITN Source | September 17, 2007

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