Pakistani Court Backs Coup, Orders Vote
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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that widespread corruption justified the ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in an army coup, and gave the leader of the putsch three years to clean up Pakistan and return it to democracy.
The court said army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf should be able to accomplish economic and political reforms within three years, and it ordered elections to be held no more than 90 days after that.
Musharraf seized power Oct. 12, alleging runaway corruption and economic mismanagement. He has come under international pressure to restore democracy.
The Supreme Court said the “military takeover was justified under the doctrine of necessity. Sufficient evidence was presented by the state of corruption of the former government.”
The court also gave Musharraf the authority to change the constitution and “formulate laws for the betterment of the people.”
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