Pak SC wont stall Prez poll, tomorrow D-day for Mush

Islamabad: The Pakistan Supreme Court on Friday unanimously rejected a set of petitions seeking postponement of Saturday's presidential election in the country.

"It is unanimously decided that the election process that has already commenced shall continue," Justice Javed Iqbal, who is heading the 10-judge bench of the apex court, said.

The court, however, said a final notification of the returning candidates will not be announced till a final decision on the petitions, which have also challenged the candidacy of President Pervez Musharraf.

Regular hearings on the petitions will be held from October 17, the court said.

Hamid Khan, counsel for petitioner Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed described the verdict as the ''first step towards the final victory and an end to military dictatorship."

"This is 60 per cent success and not 100 per cent. We are confident of our ultimate victory," he said.

Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, presidential candidates of the lawyer's and the PPP respectively and Rehan Waseem are the three petitioners.

Under the circumstances, President Musharraf will seek a fresh mandate to rule Pakistan for another five years on Saturday amid heightened political and legal wrangling.

The election is being held at a time when the embattled military ruler is facing intense heat from politicians, lawyers and the 'jehadi' elements who have unleashed terror by carrying out suicide attacks across the Islamic nation.

The 64-year-old General, who was born in India before its Partition, would be seeking re-election from the present provincial and National Assemblies, terms of which are due to expire soon and without doffing his uniform, a move which has triggered an Opposition outcry.

However, Gen Musharraf has the numbers on his side and looks all set to win with a huge margin, which would make him the longest serving ruler in the country's history.

All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), an umbrella outfit of Opposition parties, led by PML-N of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose government was overthrown by Gen Musharraf in 2000, has alleged that it was unconstitutional for Gen Musharraf to hold dual offices and his re-election from the present assemblies takes away the right of fresh assemblies to choose their President.