PM that Musharraf ousted in 1999 poised for return

EXILED former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is poised to return to Pakistan to contest critical January elections, his party said last night, posing a significant challenge to the authority of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

It was unclear whether Gen Musharraf, under fire for imposing emergency rule, would be able to keep his most vehement opponent out of Pakistan.

Earlier yesterday a Supreme Court stacked with loyal judges cleared the final legal obstacle to Gen Musharraf’s re-election for another five-year presidential term. The decision was widely expected after Gen Musharraf purged the court of independent-minded judges.