SC hearing of petitions against Musharraf’s candidacy adjourned

CNews ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court larger bench Monday adjourned hearing of the constitutional petitions challenging the candidature of General Musharraf for presidential election.Justice Javed Iqbal is the head of the 11-member larger bench hearing the case. The counsels of petitioners concluded their arguments today. Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday in his remarks during the proceedings said that the court if declares that an electoral college could not elect an office twice the decision would cause a state of uncertainty.Attorney General Malik Qayyum in his arguments said the petitions challenging the candidature of General Musharraf for presidential election are non-maintainable. He further argued that the court have no jurisdiction of hearing the case against the president under Article 41-VI. He contended that President Musharraf is eligible for re-election and under earlier judgments of the apex court and the dual-office law Gen. Musharraf can contest the election. He said the constitution’s Articles 243-244 and 245 could not apply to eligibility of President Musharraf. Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan objected over the Attorney General’s argument about maintainability of the petitions. The court later adjourned the hearing for tomorrow.