Pakistan's Supreme Court has dismissed challenges to President Pervez Musharraf's bid to seek re-election in a vote on October 6th.
"As per majority six-three, the petitions are not maintainable," Judge Rana Bhagwandas, head of a nine-member bench, told the court.
Pakistani police scuffle with lawyers outside the Election Commission office in Islamabad yesterday. Image: Reuters.
Anti-government lawyers and opposition supporters outside the court shouted their disapproval after the decision.
The court heard petitions challenging Gen Musharraf's right to hold the posts of president and army chief, the legality of being elected in uniform, and whether he can get a mandate from outgoing assemblies before general elections due by mid-January.
Had the court blocked his re-election, analysts say he might have imposed emergency rule or even martial law.
Gen Musharraf has vowed to quit the army, his main source of power, after winning another term. He has held both posts under a 2004 constitutional amendment, but his presidential term ends on November 15th, and he is due to give up his army post by year's end.
An electoral college comprising members of the National Assembly, Senate and provincial assemblies will vote for a president before the assemblies are dissolved.
Gen Musharraf submitted his nomination papers to the Election Commission yesterday.
Wajihuddin Ahmed, a former Supreme Court judge who refused to swear allegiance to Gen Musharraf after his coup, also filed nomination papers, as did a senior member of the opposition Pakistan People's Party of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
In all, 43 candidates filed papers, the Election Commission said. A final list will be published on Monday.