SC praises Indian democracy

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 was that Indian politicians possessed tolerance, whereas Pakistani politicians lacked it.

He made the remarks in response to a statement by the counsel for retired judge Wajihuddin Ahmad in his argument where he said Musharraf was not qualified to contest the presidential election as the Constitution did not allow it.