Pakistan:Pakistan's supreme court has cleared the way for President Pervez Musharraf to seek another five-year term by throwing out a major legal challenge to his controversial re-election plans.
In raucous scenes inside the normally quiet courtroom yesterday, lawyers cried "shame! shame!" and "Go, Musharraf, go!" after six of the nine judges rejected a tangle of petitions against Mr Musharraf standing in next Saturday's poll.
"This is shameful. It is not a judgment, it is the dictation of a dictator," said Ali Ahmad Kurd, a prominent anti-military advocate, addressing supporters from a courtroom bench.
Outside the mood was equally black as opposition supporters threw eggs and tomatoes at the building.
"They have given this judgment at gunpoint. It proves that as long as Musharraf is there, no institution can be free in Pakistan," said Roedad Khan, a retired civil servant.
Mr Musharraf's spokesman, Rashid Qureshi, said the president had been vindicated. "Ultimately, this proves that justice prevails. It's unfortunate that the opposition behaves in a manner that shows they are bad losers."
Barring unforeseen upsets, Mr Musharraf now looks set for re-election on October 6. He has the parliamentary majority to carry the vote and several troublesome election rules have been overturned in his favour.
Analysts said the decision dealt a blow to hopes of driving the military from politics. "Pakistan's Prague Spring has come to an end in September," said analyst Ayaz Amir.
"His election should be smooth sailing from now on."
Mr Musharraf's electoral woes may have diminished but the political crisis rumbles on, with enraged opposition leaders vowing to take their protests to the streets.
However the opposition has proven incapable of mounting large rallies since late July, when a lawyer-led anti-military movement fizzled out. An opposition bloc is due to resign from parliament on Tuesday, hoping to rob his re-election of legitimacy.
Their united front is weakened by the absence of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's party, which is holding power-sharing talks with Mr Musharraf. In a surprise move last night, Ms Bhutto said her party would lodge its own challenge to Mr Musharraf in the supreme court next week.
Although 43 people have put their names forward for election, the only serious contender is Mr Musharraf.
- (Guardian Service)