A controversial referendum to extend President Pervez Musharraf's rule has been given the go-head by Pakistan's Supreme Court.
The court unanimously rejected eight petitions brought by opposition parties and lawyers' groups arguing that the referendum - scheduled for next Tuesday - is unconstitutional.
Mr Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in October 1999, will ask the nation on Tuesday to allow him another five years as president to continue his economic, political and social reforms, a move rejected by all the main opposition parties.
The Supreme Court, which in 2000 upheld Mr Musharraf's coup but said he had to hand over to a civilian government by October 2002, has rarely ruled against a sitting military ruler since Pakistan gained independence from Britain in 1947.