ISLAMABAD, April 12: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the holding of referendum by General Pervez Musharraf for extending his tenure as the president of Pakistan.

Azmat Ali Qureshi had stated in his petition that Mr Musharraf being a government servant was not entitled to hold referendum to become the president.

Advocate M Sharif, appearing for the petitioner, said the plea was originally fixed for hearing in the court of Justice Javed Buttar, the senior judge of the LHC, Rawalpindi Bench. But owing to his absence it was placed before Justice Mian Jehangir.

The justice heard the counsel for few minutes and observed that he would decide it after reading the petition in his chamber. But at around 2.40 pm, the advocate said, it was announced by the reader of the court that the petition had been dismissed.