Musharraf gets second term

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, cleared by the Supreme Court to hold office again, will be sworn in next week for a second term, it was reported.

Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum made the announcement, saying Gen. Musharraf and the election commission were waiting for a written version of the ruling, which was to be issued Friday, Britain's Telegraph reported.

The new handpicked Supreme Court judges -- installed after Musharraf issued his Nov. 3 emergency decree -- took less than an hour Thursday to clear the president's re-election, the report said.

Musharraf was re-elected Oct. 6 by the national and state legislatures, but that was challenged by opposition leaders, who said he could not seek office while holding onto his other title of army chief.

Before the Supreme Court could rule, the emergency was imposed. The independent judges were then replaced by a new panel.

Musharraf has promised to give up his military post upon re-election. He has also promised to hold free parliamentary elections on Jan. 8.

The Telegraph reported the question now is whether the voting will be conducted under emergency rule. The newspaper also said, with Musharraf's power preserved, he may choose to restore the constitution.