ISLAMABAD, Sept 28 (KUNA) -- The legal battle between opposition and the government ended Friday when the apex court ruled in favor of President General Pervez Musharraf and allowed him to contest presidential elections.

The Supreme Court has dismissed legal petitions challenging Musharrafs holding of dual offices and bid to re-elect himself by the outgoing assemblies for another five-year term, the court announced in it epoch-making short verdict.

The nine-member court bench, headed by Justice Rana Bhagwandas, declared all petitions as not maintainable and, therefore, allowed Musharraf to contest the presidential election as an army chief.

The court verdict sparked protests by lawyers and opposition parties outside the court building. Opposition parties workers were chanting Go Musharraf Go, and Shame, Shame slogans. While, the lawyers condemned the court ruling and announced to hold countrywide protest demonstrations on Saturday, the day Election Commission office will scrutinize all presidential candidates forms and submit them.

"We are not surprised with the court verdict rather we were expecting that", said Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, leader of six-party religious alliance Mutahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) while talking to media.

When asked will the opposition appeal against the court verdict, he said, it was not a one-day match. It a long series match and battle between Musharraf and us will continue.
The court was hearing six legal petitions of Imran Khan, cricketer turned politician, Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamat-i-Islami, and an association of pro-democracy lawyers, all seeking disqualification of Musharraf as a candidate in the upcoming presidential elections and his holding of two offices.

Musharraf, who came in a bloodless coup in late 1999, is seeking another presidential term by the outgoing assemblies. He has announced that if he is re-elected, he will doff his uniform and take oath as a civilian or otherwise will retain his military post.