Pakistan court to resume key Musharraf case: report

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

SLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's Supreme Court is expected to resume a hearing into challenges to President Pervez Musharraf's controversial election victory this week and could reach a decision by the weekend, a newspaper reported on Monday.

Army chief Musharraf imposed emergency rule on November 3, suspending the constitution, sacking most top judges, locking up lawyers and rounding up most of the political opposition and rights activists.

He justified his steps by saying the judiciary was hampering the battle against militants and interfering with governance. But diplomats say Musharraf's main objective was to stop the Supreme Court ruling his October 6 re-election invalid.

Rivals had filed legal challenges in the Supreme Court arguing Musharraf was ineligible to contest while still army chief.

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He also said he would step down as army chief and be sworn in as civilian president as soon as the Supreme Court -- where new judges seen as friendly to the government have been appointed -- ruled on the challenges to his election.

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