Even Musharrafs allies have doubts about his re-election bid in uniform

The new-found confidence of Pakistans Supreme Court has led to President Pervez Musharrafs allies casting doubt on his re-election bid.

Washington, Aug 17 : The new-found confidence of Pakistan's Supreme Court has led to President Pervez Musharraf's allies casting doubt on his re-election bid.

Senior figures in the governing party have warned that the Supreme Court will almost certainly block Musharraf's nomination for the President and declare it unconstitutional.

"I think it is very difficult for him to get through the question of eligibility," the New York Times quoted the Minister of State for Information Technology, Ishaq Khan Khakwani, as saying.

Khakwani and others in the ruling party have said that Musharraf should resign as country's Army Chief if he wanted to overcome the opposition in the courts and in the streets since him being a presidential candidate as well as military chief would be untenable.

"Politically and morally I do not think he should be re-elected by the sitting assembly," Khakwani said, adding, "If I were to offer an opinion to him, I would say, 'Sir, please, take off your uniform, appoint a new chief of army staff and stand for election.' "

The opposition political parties have raised at least five objections to Musharraf's nomination as president most of which fall under the constitutional provisions, and hence would be reviewed by the Supreme Court.

Musharraf, seized power in a coup in 1999 and became President in 2002 by a 'referendum'.

However, question remains whether he would be considered as already having served the maximum two consecutive terms in office.

His resignation as the army's chief would also debar him to contest the polls this year since technically he should allow two years to lapse before running for elected office.

Finally, there is the question of the appropriateness of having General Musharraf elected for a new five-year term by the current National Assembly, which would be dissolved immediately after the election.

ANI