The commission on Saturday ratified the election of Musharraf for a second five-year term, clearing the way for the general to become a civilian leader, an offical said.


Kanwar Dilshad, a spokesman for the commission, said: "We have issued a notification about the success of Pervez Musharraf in the presidential election."

Musharraf has long vowed to resign as the army chief and become a civilian leader as soon as he is confirmed for a second term.
The Pakistani leader was chosen by parliament for a new term in October, but the country's supreme court put a hold on results while it examined complaints that the constitution banned military officers from contesting presidential ballots.

Civilian president

The supreme court, manned with judges appointed by Musharraf, on Thursday dismissed the final legal challenges to Musharraf's re-election, paving the way for him to take a new oath of office as a civilian president.

Rashid Qureshi, a spokesman for Musharraf, said he could not give a date when that would happen but promised it would not be long.

"Once the notification is issued there will be no delay on the president's side," he said.

The court on Friday endorsed Musharraf's emergency rule, citing the president's own justification arguments almost word for word, though it also urged him to lift the measure "at the earliest".

Becoming a civilian leader would meet a major demand of other world powers, which have criticised Musharraf for imposing the state of emergency.


Source: Agencies