Islamist challenges Mush's leadership in court

Islamabad, May 14: The head of Pakistan's Islamist oppositionalliance petitioned the Supreme Court today, calling for the removal ofPresident Pervez Musharraf from office as well as from his position asarmy chief.

The move by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, president of the MuttahidaMajlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance, came amid a deepening judicial crisisthat represents the greatest challenge to Musharraf's authority sincehe took power in a military coup in 1999.

''We have challenged both of Musharraf's positions because he isnot capable of holding either office,'' Shahid Shamsi, a spokesman forAhmed, told Reuters.

In his petition, Ahmed pleaded that Musharraf be dismissed fromthe army because he had violated his oath by taking part in politicswhile remaining in uniform.

He said Musharraf had also disqualified himself from holding the office of president by ''dragging the army into politics''.

Musharraf promised to stand down as army chief by the end of 2004as part of a deal with MMA but later backed out of his commitment.

Constitutionally, he is due to quit the army by the end of December this year, but is believed to be reluctant to do so.

Musharraf is expected to stand for a second term as president inSeptember or October and wants to be re-elected by the national andprovincial assemblies before they are dissolved for elections duearound the turn of the year.

Many analysts say Musharraf's move to sack the country's ChiefJustice Iftikhar Chaudhry in March might be motivated by a desire tohave a more pliable man at the head of judiciary in case of aconstitutional challenge to his plans.

Reuters

Related Stories