Musharraf lawyer urges SC to uphold vote

Pakistan, A Pakistani Government lawyer told the Supreme Court Monday that overturning military ruler Pervez Musharraf's victory in a presidential election would not be in the country's interests.

The court is hearing challenges against Musharraf's huge win in the October 6 vote by the national and provincial parliaments, which was boycotted by most of the opposition.

It is expected to rule later this week. The appeals argue that Musharraf was ineligible to stand for another five-year term while keeping his role as army chief, and that the vote should not have been carried out by the current, outgoing parliaments.

Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum told the 11-judge bench that Musharraf had already promised to quit the military by the time his current presidential term ends, on November 15.

"Since the president is to give up his uniform before taking oath for the second term in just a matter of days, any interference will not be merited and in public interest at this juncture," Qayyum told the court. The court ruled the day before the election that the vote could go ahead, but stipulated that no official notification of the result could be announced until after it had decided on the appeals.

Islamabad, Tuesday, AFP