New Delhi: Game, set and match it would seem for General Musharraf. His handpicked bench of Supreme Court dismissed four of five petitions challenging his re-election.
The judgment in the fifth is also expected to go in his favour on Thursday, which is when the General could be home and dry.
The country’s election commission will formally declare him elected president in the polls that were held last month.
He will step down as army chief, handing over charge to trusted No. 2 Gen Kiyani. Elections will be held on January 8.
While what happens to the emergency is still not clear, Musharraf still has Washington's approval.
“President Musharraf has been and continues to be a strong voice against extremism. We value our partnership with the Government of Pakistan under the leadership of President Musharraf,” said US Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte.
Musharraf is now headed for Saudi Arabia amid indications that he may reach out to Nawaz Sharif.
Benazir Bhutto is out on a limb. Her understanding with Musharraf has collapsed as also the amnesty ordinance.
So she will be kept busy at hearings involving old corruption cases.
With his political road smooth, Musharraf is turning his army on Islamic militants in Swat.
This could be the next big challenge - testing his ability to tame the militants without entirely breaking old ties with them and retaining the discipline and cohesion of his army.
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