ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 22 The reinstatement of Pakistani Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry could upset President Pervez Musharraf's re-election bid, it was reported Sunday.
Musharraf, under pressure because of mounting militant violence in the country, suffered a setback last week when the Supreme Court ruled his suspension of Chaudhry for alleged abuse of office was illegal, and ordered the judge's reinstatement.
Opposition political parties plan to file legal challenges to stop Musharraf -- who came to power in 1999 after a bloodless coup -- from seeking another term as president in this year's elections.
The high court, under the reinstated Chaudhry, may also consider whether Musharraf can be elected by parliament prior to the elections.
Meanwhile, a senior White House official indicated the United States has not ruled out strikes in Pakistani tribal areas against resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida.
The Washington Post quoted Homeland Security Adviser Frances Townsend as telling "Fox News Sunday" that "just because we don't speak about things publicly doesn't mean we are not doing many of the things you are talking about."
But Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer," the United States should not take any unilateral action.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
