New Delhi: Embattled President Pervez Musharraf, who plans to seek re-election in uniform, faced a fresh challenge on Wednesday when the Supreme Court asked his legal adviser to clarify when the military dictator's dual office was ending.
The Pakistan Supreme Court has given President Pervez Musharraf till Thursday to announce the date when he would either give up presidency or the uniform.
The Court has observed that Musharraf cannot hold two offices beyond that date. The Supreme Court's deadline comes as a serious blow to Musharraf's attempts to stay in power.
A seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry asked Musharraf's legal adviser Sharifuddin Pirzada to enquire from the President when his dual office period would come to an end and inform the apex court.
One of the bench members Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar even remarked during the hearing that in his opinion, the President could not hold two offices ‘after the period ends’.
The President's term ends on November 15 and Musharraf has announced his plan to get re-elected between September 15 and October 15.
Though having promised to give up uniform by the end of 2007, Musharraf has so far remained mum on the issue.
The Supreme Court has adjourned till Thursday a petition by the MMA, pleading that Musharraf's tenure, as army chief be declared void.
Another petition challenging Musharraf's re-election from the present Assemblies was filed by the Islamist alliance.
The Pakistan Lawyer's Forum had filed a review petition with regard to the 17th constitutional amendment, which allows Musharraf to continue in office though his term as president ended last April.
Musharraf's term as Army Chief is to expire on December 31 2007.
(With agency inputs)
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