Supreme Court puts Musharraf's future on ice

Pakistan's Supreme Court yesterday kept the fate of President Pervez Musharraf's re-election bid in its hands by deciding a vote could go ahead today, but a winner cannot be declared until it rules later if he was eligible to stand.

US ally General Musharraf is sure to win the vote in Parliament and the country's four provincial assemblies.

But the court's decision to keep open a possibility of disqualification could weaken his position and deepen a sense of mounting uncertainty in nuclear-armed Pakistan.

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

Rivals were at least relieved that President 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 towards our victory," said Hamid Khan, a lawyer for Wajihuddin Ahmed, a retired judge running against Mr Musharraf.

Independent analysts said the situation was finely balanced.

"General 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 general turned analyst.