Musharraf can fight elections in uniform - Pak SC

Musharraf can fight elections in uniform - Pak SC Pakistan Supreme Court on Friday allowed President Pervez Musharraf to contest the Presidential election in uniform.

The court finished hearing opposition petitions that say Musharraf, a key US ally who led a coup eight years ago, is ineligible to contest the presidential election on October 6 while he is still army chief.

Musharraf has been at loggerheads with the Supreme Court since his botched attempt in March to remove the country’s chief justice, a move that sparked mass protests and sent the President’s popularity plummeting.

The verdict will be closely watched not only in the volatile Islamic republic of 160 million people but also in Washington, where Musharraf remains vital to the fight against Al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Musharraf, 64, has promised to quit his military role by November 15 if he wins another five-year term in office. But he has not ruled out dissolving Parliament or even imposing martial law if he is blocked.

Agencies