Pakistan's Supreme Court began hearing legal challenges to President Pervez Musharraf's rule yesterday, adding to the woes he faces as he prepares to secure another term.

Court yesterday told Musharraf to name the date when his presidential term ends.

Musharraf, who is also army chief, hopes to get re-elected by the national and provincial assemblies between 15th of this month and 15th of next month. A general election is due around the year-end.

But Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, has seen his popularity slide since he tried to dismiss Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in March.

At the same time, the government is under attack by militants who are believed to have engineered Tuesday's suicide bombings near the army headquarters in the city of Rawalpindi that killed 25 people, including staff of the main intelligence agency.

Musharraf has turned for help with his political plans to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in the hope that a power-sharing deal would boost his legitimacy and support and help him overcome constitutional hurdles to remaining in power.

The US and other Western allies hope a pact between the old rivals would bring stability and help sustain Pakistan's efforts in the war on terrorism.

Chaudhry yesterday told the court that the case would be adjourned for the day while Musharraf's main legal advisor goes to "seek instructions from the president on expiry of the term."

Meanwhile, the court indefinitely adjourned a hearing into another challenge against Musharraf's position as army chief.

PHOTO CAPTION

President Pervez Musharraf seen here in April 2007. (AFP)