Musharraf might be ready to share political space: CSM

President Pervez Musharraf might be ready to share some of his political space with two of his formidable opponents - Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, a Christian Science Monitor (CSM) report has said.

Washington, Aug 30 : President Pervez Musharraf might be ready to share some of his political space with two of his formidable opponents - Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, a Christian Science Monitor (CSM) report has said.

Musharraf's moves towards sharing power have been tentative, but this week's decision indicates the political pressure on him to compromise with one or both of Pakistan's former leaders and to restore democracy, the report adds.

Musharraf's most likely "survival hatch," analysts say, is to cooperate with Benazir Bhutto, with whom he has been negotiating for months.

But while he has preferred to deal with the more flexible Bhutto thus far, any power equation that he engineers from now on is likely to include Sharif, the "political heavyweight" from Pakistan's Punjab province.

Many of Sharif's old party members, who now support Musharraf according to observers, may be emboldened to defect when Sharif returns.

Cracks have already begun to appear in the ruling coalition government that supports Musharraf.

The report quotes political scientist Rasul Bakhsh Rais as saying, "Nawaz Sharif's entrance will no doubt create a big stir."

If a free and fair election were to be held in Pakistan today, he adds, "Sharif would certainly come out on top."

According to the report, how the situation will unfold following the arrival of the Sharifs is unclear.

Despite his overtures towards democracy and compromise with his two potential rivals, Musharraf might still try to prevent Sharif's return.

ANI