Musharraf says he'll keep the uniform, thanks

President and military dictator Pervez Musharraf gave his response to Benazir Bhutto, who affirmed that she would take part in the government if Musharraf would divest himself of his military duds.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Ch. Pervaiz Elahi has said that President Musharraf will be re-elected with uniform and Peoples Party will be welcomed if they would support election of the president in uniform.

Talking to newsmen after laying foundation stone of a new block in Muslim League House, Pervaiz Elahi said it is the right of the voters to elect their leaders and whoever elected by them will be accepted.
(The News)

Evidently Musharraf did the calculations and figures that Bhutto overreached with her demand.

If she's interested in keeping Pakistan united against the radical factions she'll either give in to Musharraf or seek a compromise.

Bhutto's position is about as delicate as Musharraf's. Musharraf's dictatorial powers do enable him to dump Bhutto and her party once he has succeeded in putting down the rebellious faction(s). Bhutto's demand was probably her way of saying "How do I know that you'll live up to your word?"

Though I've expressed a certain degree of faith that Musharraf has Pakistan's best interests at heart, Bhutto's question is an excellent one from her point of view.

One of the best evidences she can get is the fact that Musharraf let stand a judicial decision that went flatly against his wishes last month. Did that decision potentially keep sentiment against him from rising? Sure it did. But you can always come up with a way to make actions seem selfishly motivated.

The second-best guarantee for Bhutto is the international community, which will no doubt lean on Musharraf if he waxes dictatorial without an exceptionally good justification.