Victory for Bush’s Favourite ‘Democratic General’ Musharraf

President Bush, who sincerely believes that General Musharraf is a true democrat, must be really pleased at the Pakistani Supreme Court judgement. “In a decision designed to legitimize the election of the Pakistani president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the country’s Supreme Court today dismissed a final legal complaint challenging his right to be re-elected while also chief of the army,” reports The New York Times.

“The ruling by the court, filled with judges loyal to General Musharraf, ended the legal maneuvering in the court that was the original catalyst for the general’s imposition of de facto martial law on Nov. 3, and paves the way for him to be sworn in again as the nation’s leader. One further small step, which will give final approval to his election victory, is expected from the Election Commission Friday.

“Some Western diplomats said it was still possible that the general would be sworn in as president again while still head of the army because once he relinquished his military position he would become a weaker head of state.

Meanwhile “the American ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson, visited one of the stations, Geo TV, earlier this week. She issued a statement afterward urging the government to allow all the television stations to resume broadcasting.

“In unusually blunt criticism by a Pakistani government official, a defense lawyer for General Musharraf, Ahmad Raza Kasuri, accused Ms. Patterson and other American diplomats of interfering ‘in our internal affairs’.”