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Court rejects coup appeal { February 7 2001 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1158000/1158310.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1158000/1158310.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1158310.stm Wednesday, 7 February, 2001, 15:04 GMT Pakistan court rejects coup appeal Pakistan's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal challenging the military takeover of the country. The appeal was filed by the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was deposed in a bloodless coup in October 1999. The 11-judge bench also ruled that Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, must hold elections by October next year, in line with a court ruling last year. The Chief Justice, however, did not pursue a court order made on Tuesday that the military administration submit a timetable for general elections. Election hope Sharifuddin Pirzada, the lawyer appearing for the administration, told the court the latest ruling would be honoured. Correspondents say the latest decision has dashed opposition parties' hopes of a swift return to democratic rule. But legal experts also say the ruling will make it extremely difficult for General Musharraf to cling to military rule beyond the three years the court has allowed him. In May 2000, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League, ruling that the military takeover was legal. It also gave General Musharraf the authority to change Pakistan's constitution, which the former ruling party is also challenging. Takeover valid Reading out the latest decision, Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan said the Supreme Court had validated the military take-over after examining all aspects of the case. There was no room to review the decision, he added.. In December, the military administration began holding local council elections as part of a plan for the devolution of power. The elections are to be concluded by the middle of 2001. General Musharraf has pledged to follow the polls with provincial and then national elections. He has, however, refused to let former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif take part in politics, accusing them both of corruption. Ms Bhutto has lived abroad in self-imposed exile since early last year, fearing arrest after a special court convicted her on a disputed corruption charge.

Army cheif assumes power { October 14 1999 } Army seizes power { October 12 1999 } Commonwealth dropped pakistan after 1999 coup { October 22 2004 } Court rejects coup appeal { February 7 2001 } Denies coup plot { September 28 1998 } General pervez musharraf { September 24 2001 } Neighbors concern { October 13 1999 } Saudi requests exile { December 20 2000 } Sharif accusations { November 19 1999 } Sharif interview { November 22 1999 } Trumpted up charges Who is in charge { October 25 1999 } Files Listed: 12

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