Per the AP, democracy is once getting rolled back in Pakistan. President and General Pervez Musharraf, , has just been reelected. That is, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has cleared his reelection.
Musharraf was reelected Oct. 6, after which time he declared a state of emergency and replaced jurists on the Pakistani Supreme Court. The now-friendly Court "swiftly" approved his reelection.
In response to criticisms by the United States and other Western powers, Musharraf agreed step down as head of the military. However, he is still head of the military as President of Pakistan; and relinquishing the title of General is just playing word games with the West.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for Jan. 8, and there is some vocal opposition; high enough profile figures he cannot simply jail like Benazir Bhutto. But with his political opponents in prison, and what is sure to be an election riddled with military intimidation and voter fraud; we're not holding out hope for a "free and fair" election. Musharraf is solidifying his power, and he's not the type to let elections get in the way.
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