Thursday, April 14 2005 09:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: In a major setback to Pakistan's beleaguered Opposition, the Supreme Court yesterday (Apr 13, 2005) dismissed Opposition-backed petitions challenging dual posts held by President Pervez Musharraf and his constitutional amendments, thus virtually endorsing his decision to continue as Chief of Army.

The Supreme Court, in a judgement considered as a legal endorsement of Musharraf's continuation, dismissed the petitions, which were filed following the President's decision to continue as a Chief of Army contrary to promise made to quit by Dec, 2004 in a "political pact" reached with the Islamist alliance Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA) in 2003.

Peeved by Musharraf's decision, the MMA is currently organizing countrywide protests asking him to quit both posts.

The Opposition advocates argued that a person associated with the Defence forces was not eligible to become President under the constitution.

In all, about six petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the two posts held by Musharraf.

A five-member bench of the Apex Court presided over by the Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, which heard the case for about eight in a brief judgment yesterday dismissed the constitutional petitions with a promise to release a detailed judgement later.