ISLAMABAD, 6 October 2007 — Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday allowed the holding of today’s presidential election but ruled that a winner can be declared only once it decides on the candidacy of Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf is expected to sweep the vote by lawmakers in the two houses of Parliament and provincial assemblies.

Yesterday, he pressed on toward a power-sharing deal with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, signing an amnesty to quash corruption cases against her and head off a mass opposition boycott of the vote. But the surprise ruling cast the future of the US-allied leader into doubt.

Delivering the ruling, Judge Javed Iqbal said the court wanted more time to consider the merits of last-gasp opposition challenges to Musharraf running while still army chief.

Rivals were relieved that Musharraf won’t be awarded victory today, even though they wanted the vote postponed. “It is a partial relief for us. Today’s order is the first step toward our victory,” said Hamid Khan, a lawyer for Wajihuddin Ahmed, a retired judge running against Musharraf.

Independent analysts said the situation was finely balanced. “Gen. Musharraf has got procedural approval by the court but he has not yet been given full legitimacy. Uncertainty will continue until a decision is given,” said Talat Masood, a retired genera-turned-analyst.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 17. The case is being heard by a bench of 10 judges.

Musharraf’s current term of office is due to end Nov. 15, and he has vowed to quit the army if elected and be sworn in as a civilian leader. The uniform is important to Musharraf because as long as he remains army chief he could declare emergency rule or martial law.

Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim said the government had “always accepted and respected court rulings, and we also accept today’s ruling.”

Still, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said government lawmakers were determined to re-elect Musharraf today and forecast that the election process would “proceed unhindered.”

Adding to the uncertainty, the Election Commission declined to say whether there would be a fresh election or if the second-placed candidate would become president, if today’s winner were disqualified. “This is a very sensitive matter. No comment,” Commission Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said.

The setback for Musharraf came after a week in which several pieces needed to secure his future appeared to fall into place. After frantic negotiations with Benazir, Musharraf appeared on the brink of an accord with a potential ally who could shore up his position after a general election due by mid-January.

Benazir plans to end more than eight years of self-exile on Oct. 18, and lead her Pakistan People’s Party in the election.

The first stage of a power-sharing deal appeared settled yesterday when Musharraf signed a so-called National Reconciliation Ordinance that will erase 11 pending corruption charges against Benazir and her husband. Other politicians and civil servants were also cleared of graft charges leveled before 1999.

But the ordinance excluded Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf ousted and exiled in 1999, and blocked from returning last month, as he has been convicted of corruption.

— Additional input from agencies