The Pakistan government is hoping for an "early decision" by the Supreme Court in the case related to President Pervez Musharraf's [Images] reelection in uniform, a top legal official has said.

A day after Musharraf announced that he would take oath as a civilian president and doff his army uniform as soon as the apex court validated his reelection, Attorney General Malik Qayyum said the government was looking forward to an early decision.

"We want a decision on merit and we will respect the court verdict," Qayyum told reporters.
Pakistan's revamped top court is likely to resume hearings next week on challenges against President Musharraf's re-election.

"The court may resume hearing the case from next week," Qayyum was quoted as saying in the media. He said two more judges would be sworn in as Supreme Court judges on Tuesday, bringing the total to 11.

That is the number that was considering the case before Musharraf imposed emergency when he sacked the chief justice and eight other Supreme Court judges who refused to take a new oath.

Musharraf swept the October 6 presidential poll despite an opposition boycott but was barred by the Supreme Court from being sworn in till it cleared his candidature.

Qayyum said the government is considering giving a pension and other benefits to 13 Supreme Court judges deposed after the proclamation of emergency and the Provisional Constitution Order on November 3.

Former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is among those who have not endorsed the emergency. Chaudhry and several other judges are under house arrest.