The validity of  President Pervez Musharraf unconfirmed victory was still argued on Wednesday, when Pakistan’s top court resumed hearings in the middle of government threats that martial law will be imposed in the country if it rules against him.

Hamid Khan, one of the rival candidate’s lawyer declared that "Our basic argument is that General Musharraf's running for the presidential election as a serving army chief is unconstitutional and illegal.".

Pervez Musharraf, after taking over in a bloodless coup in 1999, won the elections with 57-per-cent backing on October 6, which made him viable for another five year mandate.

The Supreme Court ordered, only one day before the vote, the delay of the official announcement of the election’s results until the verdict on the petitions questioning Musharraf's candidature will be given.

Consequently, the political uncertainty has grown in the last period in Pakistan. "The imposition of martial law cannot be ruled out if the Supreme Court decides that president Musharraf's re-election from the present assemblies is invalid," Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan told Geo news channel.

The Court hearings come one day before the returning of the former Premier Benazir Bhutto, who has plans of starting her party’s campaign for the general elections which are due to start next January.

After an eight years self-imposed exile, Benazir Bhutto decided to return to Pakistan. Musharraf has negotiated with her to secure his political survival since his popularity was low.

The agreement grants Bhutto amnesty from corruption charges in exchange for her party’s support in Musharraf’s presidential race and also implies an US-backed alliance against Islamic militancy and extremism in the country.

Yet, the agreement was challenged last week in the court, making the government to advise Bhutto to delay her return.

"She is free to come and, you know, the laws of the land will apply to her, like any other citizen of Pakistan," Aziz told CNN cable television. "The people have had a strong reaction to (the) removal of corruption cases against Ms Bhutto," he added.

Bhutto’s reaction was firm. She is returning home, where thousands of people await her.