Imran Khan goes on hunger strike as Court dismisses Musharraf re-election challenge

The former Pakistan cricket captain was arrested last week with thousands of other political opponents after President Pervez Musharraf introduced a state of emergency.

Mr Khan, who now runs an opposition political party, was seized by students loyal to Gen Musharraf as he demonstrated in Lahore on 3 November and bundled into a van before being taken to jail.

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He had been in hiding since evading house arrest this month. His spokesman said today that the hunger strike "will continue until judges are reinstated and citizens' rights are restored".

The crisis engulfing Pakistan showed no sign of easing today as a Supreme Court hand-picked by Gen Musharraf swiftly dismissed legal challenges to his continued rule.

It opened the way for him to serve another five-year term - this time solely as a civilian president. Opponents have denounced the new court, saying its decisions have no credibility because it has been stripped of independent voices.

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Gen Musharraf sacked all judges opposed to him when he declared emergency rule, days before the tribunal was expected to rule on his eligibility to serve as president.

Today's court ruling could hasten Gen Musharraf 's decision to take off his army uniform before Pakistan holds critical parliamentary elections on 8 January.

The general has said he would quit as armed forces commander by the end of the month, assuming he was given the legal go-ahead by the court to remain as president.

Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto said she was undecided whether to participate in polls she doubted would be fair. She has ruled out further negotiations with Gen Musharraf, saying she cannot trust him.

The remaining challenge will be heard later in the week. General Musharraf has promised to resign as army chief if the new court validates his presidency.

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His wife Jemima Khan joined scores of protesters outside the Pakistan High Commission yesterday to demand an end to the country's military crackdown and the release of her ex-husband.

Ms Khan was accompanied at the demonstration in London by her mother Lady Annabel Goldsmith and her youngest son Qasim.

About 150 demonstrators gathered calling for "Democracy", "Revolution", and for the General to quit as Pakistan's president.

Miss Khan, 33, who has helped found the Free Pakistan movement, a group made up largely of lawyers, journalists, doctors and professionals, stood at the heart of the demonstration with her mother and son.

Eight-year-old Qasim held a picture of his father with the words 'Release Imran. Release my Aba' - meaning father.

Miss Khan, who was also carrying a placard with a picture of her former husband, received a message from him yesterday, which was smuggled out of the jail where he is being held, to tell their other son, Suleiman, 11, that he was thinking of him on the boy's birthday.

Reports in Pakistan say he is in a maximum security prison where hardened criminals are held.

President Musharraf declared emergency rule on November 3, claiming it was necessary because the nation was under threat from militants and an unruly judiciary.

Since then thousands, including opposition activists and lawyers, have been jailed, supreme court judges have been purged and independent TV stations silenced.

Critics claim the general declared the state of emergency only in order to hold on to power ahead of parliamentary elections.

He has come under increasing international pressure but yesterday his aides brushed aside a plea from American Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, on a visit to Pakistan, to lift emergency rule and release all political detainees.

"This is nothing new," a foreign ministry spokesman said. "The U.S. has been saying this for many days."

Musharraf has insisted he will lift emergency rule only if the security situation improves and has strongly hinted that such a move is unlikely before parliamentary elections scheduled to be held by January 9.

The opposition says a free and fair vote cannot be held while thousands of opponents are behind bars and political parties are denied the right to assemble.

It was not clear yesterday what measures Washington could take next to pressure its ally. Bush administration officials have said publicly that they have no plans to cut off the military aid that Pakistan receives to fight Islamic fanatics.