ISLAMABAD, 30 October 2007 — Pakistan’s Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum told the Supreme Court yesterday that overturning President 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 Oct. 6 vote by the national and provincial Parliaments, which was boycotted by most of the opposition. The court 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.
Qayyum told the 11-judge bench that Musharraf had already promised to quit the military by the time his current presidential term ends, on Nov. 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. He said since the court had allowed President Musharraf to contest poll, the petitioners’ argument against his election holds no ground. He also cited the court’s verdict on an appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad that sought to disqualify Musharraf from running for presidency. The court had rejected the petition.
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.
President’s lawyer Wasim Sajjad will give his arguments today and tomorrow.
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