Islamabad: India's political system came in for praise in Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday, with the country being described as a 'good example of a democratic state' with politicians exhibiting the virtue of 'tolerance'.
Justice Chaudhry Aijaz Ahmed, a member of the 11-judge bench hearing the legal challenge to President Pervez Musharraf's re-election in uniform, observed that the difference between India and Pakistan is that Indian politicians possess tolerance, whereas Pakistani politicians lack it.
He made the remarks in response to a statement by Aitzaz Ahsan, the counsel for retired judge Wajihuddin Ahmad, who said that India was a good example of a democratic state.
He made the statement during arguments in the court where Ahmad claimed Gen Musharraf was not qualified to contest the presidential election as the Constitution did not allow it.
"The Army depends on the unity of command whereas the state depends on dispersal of authority, sharing of power, accommodation and tolerance and India can be quoted here as a good example of a democratic state," Ahsan said.
He also said that intelligence agencies in India did not interfere in general elections, in obvious reference to the alleged involvement of Pakistan's secret services in politics.
Justice Javed Iqbal, who heads the bench, then said: "In India, generals are not invited by the politicians."
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