JURIST - Paper Chase: Musharraf wins Pakistan presidential election pending high court ruling

[JURIST] Pakistan's current president and military leader General Pervez Musharraf [official website] won an overwhelming victory in presidential elections Saturday, according to unofficial results. Musharraf collected 252 out of 257 votes in the National Assembly of Pakistan [official website] and so far has won the support of a majority of lawmakers in three of Pakistan's four provinces. Many opposition politicians boycotted the vote in protest, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan [official website] may still disqualify Musharraf himself.

The court ruled Friday that the controversial ballot could proceed, but it barred the Election Commission of Pakistan [official website] from officially declaring a winner until the high court issues a ruling on whether Musharraf is in fact an eligible presidential candidate. The earliest the court will be able to issue a ruling is October 17, at which time it will hear legal arguments [JURIST report] filed by opposition party members challenging Musharraf's bid for a another presidential term while still chief of the Army. His current term expires November 15. AP has more.

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