Pakistan's top court is asking former President Pervez Musharraf to
explain his 2007 decision to impose emergency rule and fire several
independent-minded judges.
The 14-member Supreme Court panel, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar
Chaudhry, is calling for Mr. Musharraf to appear in person or through
counsel on July 29.
Petitions have been filed challenging Mr. Musharraf's decision to
declare a state of emergency, suspend the constitution and dismiss
several top judges in November 2007, weeks after a controversial
presidential election.
In other news, the Pakistani military says troops killed 27 militants
during ongoing operations against Taliban fighters in the northwest
over the past 24 hours. Several militants died after jets pounded
suspected hideouts of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in South
Waziristan.
Mehsud is blamed for scores of attacks against government and civilian
targets, and is believed to be a key ally for al-Qaida fighters in
Pakistan.
On Tuesday, the military said more than 56 militants were killed during
a two-day operation in the northwestern Lower Dir district.
Pakistan has been fighting Taliban militants throughout the country's
northwest for more than two months. The campaign originally focused on
the Swat Valley and surrounding areas, but has recently shifted to
tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
The military says around 1,700 militants have been killed in the
offensive, but reporters have had little access to the battle zone and
have not been able to confirm the casualty figures.