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GUEST: Tayyab Mahmud, Professor at the University of Seattle

Hundreds lawyers clashed with Pakistani riot police outside the country’s Supreme Court and Election Commission. Critics are angry over a high court ruling that will allow Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to run for another term – as he still serves as Pakistan’s Army Chief. Musharraf claims that he will step down as Army Chief if he wins re-election. The presidential election will take place this Saturday. The latest protests are the largest since July, when Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudry – who was reinstated after it was ruled that the suspension was illegal. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who has been living in exile since 1999, says that her party’s talks with potential ally Musharraf have stalled. Bhutto faces corruption charges which could be dropped as part of a broader amnesty proposal – it’s unclear now if Bhutto will return to Pakistan later this month as planned.