Islamabad, Pakistan: October 6, 2007 – Pakistan’s most important day, which the people have been awaiting, has after all come i.e. the election of President Musharraf. To begin casting their votes, a special session of Pakistan's national and four provincial assemblies has been convened to put an end of the controversy once for all. Let us wait see, though everything is pre-arranged.

As per schedule, members of the assemblies have begun casting their votes amid the tight security here at the Parliament House. Immediately thereafter the ballot boxes would be sealed and results held as per the ruling of the Supreme Court.

There is every apprehension that possible protests and violence may break out in important cities of Pakistan, if the elections are announced, particularly in favor of President Musharraf.

Apart from the above reason, the Supreme Court wish to delay the announcement of the election results till they decide the Petition on Gen Musharraf's eligibility to hold dual posts. Supreme Court wants to kill two birds with one stone.   

To avoid any confrontation with Benazir Bhutto and smooth sailing, President Musharraf has signed an ordinance for National Reconciliation on Friday and that is a winning point for him. Even otherwise, his election as President looks to be pre-set. (IR Summary).

National Reconciliation

 To try and smoothen the political turbulence of the last few months and push through a political deal with Benazir Bhutto that ensures he stays on as president, Musharraf signed an ordinance for national reconciliation on Friday.

Under the deal her party will not resign from the assembly before the vote for president and corruption charges will be dropped against Bhutto and other politicians dating between 1986 and 1999 and also amends rules to protect from fraud parliamentary elections due by January.

''Before arresting any member of parliament there must be a recommendation by the parliamentary ethics committee. The members of the ethics committee will be made up equally of members of the ruling party and from the opposition. If six are from the government then six will be from the opposition, they will also be drawn equally from the Senate and National assembly.

''This will be a safeguard against people being arrested under false charges and there should be a democratic political culture. We should all admit that in the past we took turns in arresting people under false charges,'' said Mushahid Hussein, Secy-Gen, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q).

Under the deal, Bhutto's party, the largest in Pakistan, will abstain from today's election.Analysts say its a given Musharraf will win though the Supreme Court which allowed the poll has made it clear no winner can be announced.

''Till the court does not give a decision on this case, General Musharraf cannot assume the role of the President for the next term. The election commission cannot announce the result of the presidential polls till the SC does not decide on Gen Musharraf's eligibility to hold dual posts,'' said Hamid Khan, Lawyer of Retd Justice Wajihuddin.

SC decision

Musharraf though is not worried about the Supreme Court's decision.

''Anyway General Musharraf was not going to take the oath of President before November 15. The final verdict will come before that. We are happy with this judgement. The real issue was not presidential elections. The petitioners wanted that the President should not get re-elected from these assemblies. And if today a stay order had come, NWFP assembly would have been dissolved and this could have led to chaos. So the court has accepted our plea,'' said Justice Mohd Malik Qayuum, Attorney General.

So even though the polls take place today, all eyes will be on October 17 when a full bench of the Supreme Court meets again.