Pakistan awaits key court decision

Musharraf and at least two other candidates are due to file election nomination papers on Thursday.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party confirmed on Tuesday that Musharraf signed the nomination papers for his candidacy, with 17 legislators, including Shaukat Aziz, the prime minister, endorsing him. "We have the required votes to ensure his success," Mushahid Hussain, the party's secretary-general, said. The same day, opposition fears that Musharraf could declare a state of emergency if he did not retain the presidential office, were fuelled afresh by a government lawyer's remarks. Malik Mohammed Qayyum, the attorney-general, told a supreme court bench that Musharraf would remain the chief of the army if he was not re-elected.

No martial law

Qayyum denied that any moves towards authoritarianism were being considered. "There will be no martial law. There will be no emergency," he said.