Musharraf Court Clears Way For Next Term

Hand-Picked Judges End Legal Challenges To Pakistan President's Continued Rule

(CBS/AP)  A Supreme Court hand-picked by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf swiftly dismissed legal challenges to his continued rule on Monday, opening the way for him to serve another five-year term - this time solely as a civilian president.

The opposition has denounced the new court, saying any decisions by a tribunal stripped of independent voices had no credibility. Musharraf purged the court on Nov. 3 when he declared emergency rule, days before the tribunal was expected to rule on his eligibility to serve as president.

The United States has put immense pressure on Musharraf to restore the constitution and free thousands of political opponents jailed under the emergency before Pakistan's critical parliamentary election on Jan. 8.

Pressure of another kind was exerted by Pakistan on the United Arab Emirates, where foreign-based journalists of Pakistan's independent Geo TV have been broadcasting out of Dubai since Musharraf's crackdown. On Sunday Geo's news broadcasts were shut down.

In response, about 150 journalists and civil rights activists in Islamabad held protests against this latest action against the press.

Monday's court ruling could hasten Musharraf's decision to take off his army uniform. The general has said he would quit as armed forces commander by the end of the month, assuming he was given the legal go-ahead by the court to remain as president.

Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar dismissed three opposition petitions challenging Musharraf's victory in a disputed presidential election last month, saying two had been "withdrawn" because opposition lawyers were not present in court.

The third was withdrawn by a lawyer for the party of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, who suggested the court was illegitimate.

"We asked for (the case) to be postponed because we said there is no constitution," she told reporters in Karachi after a meeting with the U.S. ambassador. She said she had no plans to revive power-sharing negotiations with Musharraf, broken off after the general's decision to declare emergency rule.

"We are not going back to the former track," Bhutto said. "We are interested in a road map for democracy, but we do not have the confidence that Gen. Musharraf's regime could give us that road map."

At a protest in Islamabad, Omer Farooq, a journalist with AVT Channel, said the reconstituted court lacked credibility.

"This decision by the Supreme Court will not at all be taken seriously by anyone, anyone in the country, whether civil society, journalists, (or the) legal fraternity," Farooq said.

One of Musharraf's first acts after seizing extraordinary powers was to purge the Supreme Court of independent-minded judges. Opponents had argued that he ought to be disqualified under a constitutional ban on public servants running for elected office, which they said applied because Musharraf was still army chief.

The military ruler told The Associated Press last week that he expected the retooled court to quickly endorse his re-election, and he was right. Deliberations lasted less then a day on the most serious cases challenging Musharraf.

The court said it would rule Thursday on another petition from a man whose candidacy for the Oct. 6 presidential election was rejected by the election commission. Only then can it authorize the election commission to announce Musharraf the winner of the vote.

[edward1975-2009]

Did anyone see this going any other way. The guys a military dictator who wasn''t about to hand over power. And he isn''t going to be influenced by hollow threats. Time to cut the funds off and let the people handle this.

[jerr11]

If you remove Musharraf, the crazy islamists will take over, just like they''re doing in Iraq.

Bhutto is just a jetsetting glamor girl. She''s just as corrupt and has no real power.

Democracy doesn''t work in this part of the world.

Give the masses an inch and they''ll throw the koran at you.

The best thing we can do is stay out of the mess and let it work it out.

[samrensho]

Pack the supreme court with your buddies and you get a free ride. Pervert Busharaf learned that lesson from none other that GW.

[roger_inkart]

Cut off any and all funding to Pakistan immediately. If democracy is 1/100th as important to Bush as he claims it is, this should be a no-brainer.

[thinkharder-]

We should be at war with this schmuck, not holind hands.

[realpatriot1]

Generalissimo Musharif says that Pakastan''s nukes are safe.

Here''s a thought, Perv, why not allow the IAEA access to inspect them like Iraq & Iran have been required to do? While you''re at it, why not allow them to interview Professor Khan about his role in transferring nuclear know-how to Iran,Libya, & North Korea?

What''s that you say, too much expectation of cooperation from our "number one ally in the War on Terror?"

OK, how about a joint operation with your troops and ours to root Al Queada out of your "sovereign" territory where Al Quaeda roams freely and stages attacks against Afghan and American troops?

That''s too much to ask too?

Well I''m sorry then, any more weapons and aid form us is too much to ask.

[glossypan]

"Mushy and Bushy are Cushy Cushy.... watch them hugging strangely caught on camera......"
Posted by GURUknows at 10:03 AM : Nov 19, 2007
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Feel free to call Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf "Perv". His friends do.

[b-easy63]

OH. A fake, stacked court says the illegal election is legitimate. So it''s alright then. (NOT).

Fake laws, court officials and removing opposition means it all is just a sham, and a lie. Musharraf is a joke and Pakistan is in the hands of an illegal regime.

Then arresting opposition leaders and saying they did not appear in court....how sad is that? Great Ally. Reminds us of another that rhymed with Madam, but started with an "S" (Saddam). We seem to never learn. Stop supporting madmen who oppress their own, because the people never forget who financed their monster----and one day they will emigrate here and get a plane....or something.

[b-easy63]

Kangaroo court. What a joke--and we are still sending this loser money? We don''t support democracy, we support flunkees.

[glossypan]

Your tax dollars at work.
The Republican hypocrisy of supporting ruthless repression in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, while in retrospect justifying our invasion of Iraq because we rid the country of a tyrant, is now very obvious.