Islamabad, Oct 17 : The Pakistan Government is quite confident about a favourable verdict on the petitions challenging Musharraf’s eligibility for contesting the October 6 presidential election in uniform, and it is fully geared to meet any eventuality with a heavy hand, sources close to the corridors of power have said.

The meetings taking place in the President’s camp these days revealed that all options and possibilities have been thoroughly discussed and a strategy has been finalised to meet any situation that could potentially threaten the present regime, the sources said.

They said that presidential aides not only discussed the issue of Musharraf’s candidature, but also the petition filed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seeking contempt proceedings against government high-ups for violating the apex court’s decision.

There is a realisation in the official camp that the issue was not properly tackled in the light of court orders and it may cause embarrassment for the government, sources added.

Sources said that the government’s claims of not imposing an emergency or martial law in the country would evaporate if there is an adverse judgement on the above-mentioned pending cases.

The Nation quoted a government official as saying that if martial law is imposed this time, it would be under a civil martial law administrator as it happened in the 1970s when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took over the reigns from General Yahya Khan.

One of the ministers told Musharraf that private electronic channels are reluctant to invite government representatives to their talk shows, sources said.

Musharraf was almost convinced on this point, when Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan intervened and apprised Musharraf of the factual situation. (ANI)