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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan-On the eve of Pakistan's presidential vote, the country's highest court ruled Friday that no winner can be declared until it decides whether President Gen. Pervez Musharraf is an eligible candidate. Musharraf pushed toward an alliance with a former premier signing an amnesty clearing her of corruption charges. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's party said it was still waiting for formal notification about the amnesty, but welcomed what many saw as the culmination of long-running power-sharing negotiations.Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the president had signed the National Reconciliation Ordinance, dropping corruption cases dating from between 1986 and 1999. The ordinance also amends rules to protect from fraud parliamentary elections due by January.An official at the presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, said the ordinance had become law.Musharraf's own standing, however, is likely remain unsure for some time yet. His opponents in Saturday's presidential election are contesting whether he can run for office while still serving as army chief, claiming it is unconstitutional. They had asked the Supreme Court to delay the vote.In a ruling Friday, presiding Justice Javed Iqbal said the vote by the national and provincial assemblies could take place on schedule. But he said the official results could only be announced after it had ruled on the petitions.He said hearings will resume on Oct. 17-meaning that even if Musharraf receives the most votes, as widely expected, he would have to wait at least 11 days before knowing whether he could take up office.His current presidential term expires Nov. 15."Pakistan will be in a state of political limbo for quite some time," said analyst Talat Masood.The government said it would respect Friday's decision."We have always accepted and respected court rulings, and we also accept today's ruling," Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim said.Still, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said government lawmakers were determined to re-elect Musharraf on Saturday and forecast that the election process would "proceed unhindered."A lawyer for retired justice Wajihuddin Ahmed, Musharraf's chief presidential rival and one of the petitioners, acknowledged that the triumph was partial."We have achieved 60 percent victory," lawyer Khan told The Associated Press outside the courtroom. "We are very hopeful that we will be successful in the Supreme Court."Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, has seen his authority and popularity slide since he made a botched attempt to fire the Supreme Court's chief justice in March. His administration has also struggled against a wave of Islamic militancy.He has promised to quit his army post and restore civilian rule by Nov. 15 if he wins re-election.However, Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said on Geo television that he might continue as military chief if the court proceedings drag on.Qayyum said he hoped a ruling would come within a week after hearings resume. He also said the unofficial result of the election could still be announced after Saturday's vote, although the official notification would have to wait for the ruling.The Election Commission declined to say whether there would be a fresh election or if the second-placed candidate would become president, if the winner of Saturday's ballot was disqualified.Ikram Sehgal, a political analyst and newspaper columnist, predicted Musharraf's allies would cast a proportion of their ballots for Senate chairman Mohammedmian Soomro, who was fielded in the event that Musharraf is disqualified.Bhutto's party has also nominated a candidate, but with the political deal with Musharraf in the offing, it was not immediately clear whether he would run or not.Other opposition parties have already quit Parliament to erode the legitimacy of the election-meaning that they can muster few votes to challenge Musharraf and his covering candidate. On Friday, 35 lawmakers resigned from the assembly in North West Frontier Province.The amnesty appeared likely to head off a threat from Bhutto to withdraw her Pakistan People's Party lawmakers from the assemblies.Hassan Ahmed Bukhari, the spokesman for the party in London, said it was waiting for formal notification of the measure granting her amnesty but added it would help "create a better environment in the country. We hope that this will pave the way for national reconciliation in the country."Bhutto, who plans to return from exile on Oct. 18, also wants a constitutional amendment to let her seek a third term as prime minister and a reduction of the president's sweeping powers.Officials in her party said those issues could be resolved later.As in the days of Noah....
