Opposition hopes have been dashed by a Pakistani court ruling, allowing country’s president, Pervez Musharraf, to run for election next week. The Supreme Court’s decision paves the way to a probable new five-year term for the man who heads the country and its military. It is the fact that he wears these two hats that has irked oppositionists. They are demanding he step down as head of the armed forces before the October 6 presidential poll. Musharraf claims he will do so after the election.