Pakistan govt readies for showdown with top court

The fate of Pakistan's embattled leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari, could be decided when the Supreme Court takes up the memo scandal and high-profile graft cases tomorrow even as the beleagured government turned to Parliament for support, amid indications that the powerful military would rally behind the apex court.

The National Assembly or lower house of parliament is expected to vote tomorrow on a resolution that seeks endorsement and support for "efforts made by the political leadership for strengthening democracy" and calls for reposing "full confidence and trust" in the leadership.

Even as parliament considers the resolution, a 17-member bench of the Supreme Court will resume hearing of a case on reopening of corruption cases that were closed under the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

A judicial commission appointed by the apex court to investigate a mysterious memo that sought US help to prevent a feared military coup in Pakistan last year will also continue its proceedings tomorrow.

Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, who triggered a storm in the country's political circles by making public the memo, is slated to testify before the commission tomorrow though doubts continue to surround his plans to travel to Pakistan.

Amidst the pressure from the judiciary, the government has been engaged in a bruising confrontation with the powerful military over the memo scandal.