Islamabad, June 11: In a major setback to Pakistan's opposition parties agitation questioning the legality of the presidency of Pervez Musharraf, the Lahore High Court has ruled that the military ruler's election though a referendum was valid under law and he was legally entitled to hold the offices of presidency as well as Chief of Army. Ruling that the election of Musharraf through a referendum last year was valid, a division bench of the Lahore High Court has held that it saw nothing wrong with the general holding the post of Chief of Army simultaneously. The opposition has shut down the parliament for over six months demanding Musharraf to quit as Chief of Army as a compromise to accept his presidency and his constitutional amendments with modifications.


"We have not noted anything in the constitution which would debar the president from remaining in uniform nor is his holding the two office simultaneously creating any hindrance to the smooth functioning of the government or any other institution," the bench said yesterday while elaborating on its short order issued recently. The court, in response to a petition filed by lawyers forum further ruled that "none of the constitutional provisions is affected if the president remains in the uniform. Therefore, decision by the president that he would take off the uniform on a date of his own choice does not impinge upon any constitutional provision and the article 6, in no way is attracted to this case." Bureau Report