Pak SC begins hearing on pleas against Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday had some tough questions for the government over the amendments made in the election laws to enable President Pervez Musharraf to seek a fresh term in office without shedding his uniform. The court said it was a “significant and drastic development.”

The apex court began a crucial hearing on a slew of petitions challenging the holding of dual office by Mr Musharraf with the presiding judge Justice Rana Bhagwan Das stating that the case would decide the “destiny of the nation and its people.”

The election commission on Sunday relaxed the bar on government servants contesting polls, paving the way for Mr Musharraf to seek re-election for a second term in office in uniform.
As the nine-member bench began hearing on the main petitions, Justice Javed Iqbal questioned attorney general Mallik Qayyum on the two electoral amendments by the election commission saying they were a “significant and drastic development” and should be taken note of by the court.

The attorney general said the bench’s verdict would automatically cover the legality of the amendments in the election laws.

The court also turned down a plea by Jamaat-i-Islami and opposition leader Imran Khan that their petitions against President Musharraf be heard by a full court, that includes chief justice Iftikar M Chaudhry who had opted out apparently because of his brush with the General.

While rejecting the petition, Justice Das said some judges had expressed dissent and wanted the full court to be convened. Attorney general Qayyum said the chief election commission was reluctant to announce the schedule of the presidential poll as the court had admitted the petitions challenging Mr Musharraf seeking re-election.