Source: BBC News

President Musharraf has said he is committed to holding elections

Pakistan’s revamped Supreme Court is due to begin hearing a legal challenge to the state of emergency. President Pervez Musharraf’s lawyers will say the emergency is the only way to ensure free and fair elections.

But Gen Musharraf faces two key legal challenges - one contesting the emergency’s legality and the other opposing his re-election as president.

But opponents expect him to win both cases as several Supreme Court judges have been replaced in the emergency.

However, if the court does sanction his position as president, Gen Musharraf has said he will then step down as chief of the army and hold elections in January.

Political opponents say they will boycott the polls if they go ahead as planned, with the state of emergency still in place.

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