Yesterday I noted a possible bargain between Musharraf and Bhutto to get the general out of the Army and the political leader out of exile. Will it happen now?

Pakistan's Election Commission yesterday changed the country's voting rules to open the way for President Pervez Musharraf to seek a new five-year term without giving up his powerful position of army chief.

Opposition parties decried the move as a violation of the constitution and accused the U.S.-allied leader of trying to bulldoze legal obstacles to his hold on power amid increasing demands for an end to military rule. They predicted a surge in democracy protests, which have already shaken the president's hold on power.

The ruling was likely to end up before the Supreme Court, which has proved an impediment to Gen. Musharraf this year.

Captain Ed sounds optimistic at this point, based upon the arguments made before Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf will give up his post of army chief if he is re-elected president and will be sworn in for a new term as a civilian, his lawyer told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

I'm less hopeful, given his flouting of the decision of the Pakistani Supreme Court just last week by sending Nawaz Sharif into exile after that body had ruled he could return to Pakistan.

Time will tell -- and Washington needs to apply pressure.