Sharif, Bhutto and the ex-general

The triumphal return of Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister that General Pervez Musharraf overthrew in 1999, has made the contest for Pakistan's future more uncertain than it already was and injected another player into the game: Saudi Arabia.

Sharif presents himself as an uncompromising champion of democracy and constitutional rule, but his years in office tell a different and more troubling story - one of corruption, high-handedness and attempts to bully independent journalists and jurists.

What makes Sharif so formidable today is not his record, but the strong backing of Saudi Arabia. The Saudis have long been powerful political and economic players in Pakistan, and they have championed politicians and parties inclined to favor Saudi-style Sunni fundamentalism. It was apparently at Saudi insistence that Musharraf let Sharif return home, after having sent him back on his previous attempt in September.

Sharif's chief civilian rival is Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister. Though her own years in office were also seriously marred by corruption, Bhutto is a somewhat more plausible champion of secularism, democracy and a real fight against Al Qaeda and Taliban bases on Pakistani soil. The Saudis do not relish her returning to power.

Bhutto's cause has been damaged by inept and clumsy American support. By clinging too long to Musharraf, and by pressing Bhutto to negotiate with him, the Bush administration has weakened its influence in Pakistan.

For now, Musharraf remains in charge. After rigging his re-election as president, he finally made good on his often-voiced promise to retire from the military. On Wednesday, he turned over command to his successor - one day before he was sworn in for a new five-year term. His powers, in theory, should be reduced, but he has made it clear that he won't give up easily. He has set parliamentary elections for January. If the emergency rule imposed by him remains in place, it would make a free and fair contest impossible.

Despite these obstacles, both Sharif and Bhutto have filed to run, while demanding an end to emergency rule and threatening to boycott the polls if it is not lifted. That is a sound strategy. There is nothing to be gained by promising Musharraf and his allies a free ride.

Their next step should be joining forces to maximize opposition strength and help assure the dictatorship's defeat. It is not too late for Bhutto to repair her democratic credentials and for Sharif to establish his.

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