New Pakistan high court backs Musharraf

LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's new appointees to the Supreme Court Thursday dismissed a final challenge to his running for a third term.

Musharraf created a political storm at home and abroad Nov. 3 when he declared emergency rule, suspended the constitution and disabled the high court.

Under intense domestic and international pressure, he has since announced he will step down as military leader before parliament votes on the presidency in early January, CNN reported.

Wednesday, his government announced the release of thousands of people detained for protesting the emergency rule and pro-democracy advocates. There were immediate calls for the release of political prisoners as well, which soon followed.

Opposition Movement for Justice party leader Imran Khan was freed from a jail in Punjab province Wednesday. While in jail, Khan, a popular former cricket star, began a hunger strike demanding Musharraf create an independent judiciary, and vowed to maintain the strike after being freed, the report said.