Pakistan Supreme Court will decide on legal challenges to President Pervez Musharraf's re-election in uniform next week, the bench hearing the matter said on Tuesday.
"We are aware of the anxiety of the government. I assure you that the case will be decided next week," said Justice Javed Iqbal, the head of the 11-member bench that is hearing five petitions opposing Musharraf's candidature in the presidential poll on the ground that he had not quit the post of Army Chief.
The petitions include two from Pakistan People's Party leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim and former judge Wajihuddin Ahmed, who had unsuccessfully contested the October six Presidential election that Musharraf swept.
The military ruler cannot be sworn in till the apex court rules on the petitions, and this has prolonged the political uncertainty in the country.
Justice Iqbal made his observations when Attorney General Malik Qayyum said the counsel for Wajihuddin Ahmed was proceeding at a slow pace and he should be ordered to finish his arguments in a reasonable time.
Qayyum said everybody in the country is in suspense over the issue of Musharraf's candidature and this uncertainty should end at the earliest.
Aitzaz Ahsan, the counsel for Ahmed, said he would complete his arguments by Thursday.
He said Musharraf was not qualified to contest the Presidential election on the day he filed his nomination papers, and therefore he could not be declared a lawful candidate for the office.
Ahsan also argued that the violation of constitutional provisions amounts to abrogation of the Constitution and the person who is guilty of doing this must be punished for 'high treason.'
Musharraf, he alleged, was guilty of subverting the Constitution and high treason by contesting the poll in uniform.
Tuesday's hearing also witnessed members of the bench criticising Musharraf's assurance before the poll that he would quit as Army Chief if re-elected as President.
Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday said this was akin to a non-Muslim saying he would convert to Islam if elected as President.
The apex court had on October 18 said it would give its ruling by the end of the month with Justice Iqbal asserting that the bench would not be deterred by fears of Musharraf imposing martial law if the verdict goes against him.
