Musharraf reels after rebuke from key ally US

Pressure is apparently mounting on Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf as he gets ready to contest the October 6 presidential polls.

Islamabad, Sept.25 : Pressure is apparently mounting on Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf as he gets ready to contest the October 6 presidential polls.

That pressure is coming from two ends -- from the United States, which has rebuked him over the detention of opposition leaders ahead of a presidential election and the news that a respected former Pakistani Supreme Court judge has announced plans to stand against him in the election.

The US Embassy in Pakistan said in a tersely worded statement that the arrests of the leadership of several Pakistani political parties was " extremely disturbing and confusing for the friends of Pakistan."

"We wish to express our serious concern about these developments. These detainees should be released as soon as possible," The Times quoted the statement as saying further.

The US rarely criticises Islamabad in public, but the embassy statement suggests that American officials are unhappy with Musharraf's heavy-handed efforts to ensure his re-election.

The Supreme Court dismissed three petitions against General Musharraf's re-election yesterday, but is still considering several more.

One group of lawyers challening his re-election has also nominated Wajihuddin Ahmed, a respected former Supreme Court judge, to run in the election. Ahmed, 67, was sacked for refusing to sign an oath of allegiance to a new provisional Constitution after the coup in 1999 and has been a staunch critic of Musharraf ever since.

ANI