Kangaroo Court Gives Musharraf Thumbs Up

Pakistan’s Supreme Court today shot down opposition to Pervez Musharraf’s re-election, an unsurprising turn given that Musharraf packed the court with allies. But with the ruling in hand, Musharraf may be ready to end emergency rule, the AP reports, something the US has demanded he do before January’s elections. Meanwhile, opposition parties boycotted a meeting setting up election rules.

Musharraf instilled emergency rule over fears the court would invalidate his rule. He vows parliamentary elections, which couldn’t unseat him, will go forward, but the opposition says emergency rule will taint them. “The Election Commission has to decide whether it wants to play its constitutional role or work as an agent of Musharraf,” said one opposition spokesman. (More Pakistan stories.)