Musharraf turns to his countrys secular political parties.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has finally come around to the view that he is precariously placed politically, and that the best way out for him, is to work with rather than against established political parties in the run-up to both the presidential and general elections.

Washington, Aug.29 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has finally come around to the view that he is precariously placed politically, and that the best way out for him, is to work with rather than against established political parties in the run-up to both the presidential and general elections.

"It's hard to wish him luck, yet a compromise between Mr. Musharraf and former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif may offer the best chance to check extremism and mounting instability in that nuclear-armed country," says the Washington Post.

The paper further goes on to say that both Bhutto and Sharif have served as prime ministers twice each, and are credibly accused of breathtaking acts of corruption and unscrupulously in pursuing their personal ambitions, but along with Musharraf, they are committed to maintaining Pakistan's secular state and to cooperate with the United States.

"All three leaders claim to be committed to Western-style democracy and freedoms, including rights for women. Collectively, they have an opportunity to steer Pakistan back toward democracy, to marginalize the extremists and to intensify the battle against the Taliban and al-Qaeda," says the paper.

"Though their mutual loathing would seem to rule out any bargain, they need each other," it adds.

A best-case scenario would be for Musharraf to step down as army commander, oversee constitutional reforms and a free and fair election for parliament, and then present himself to the national and provincial legislatures, which choose the president, as a candidate.

In the process he would secure the legitimacy that he craves for.

ANI