After several setbacks at home, Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf is striving to seal a deal with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto that appears aimed at establishing a power-sharing arrangement between them and at ensuring that he will have another term as president. The agreement plainly would help both politicians. There are more questions about how much it will help Pakistan's weakened democracy.
Mr. Musharraf has two political problems. The first concerns his status as president and head of the army. That used to be illegal, but several years ago, he engineered passage of a constitutional amendment that allowed him to serve in both posts. That legislation expires Dec. 31.
According to law, he must stand for re-election by national and provincial assemblies no more than two months and no less than one month before his term expires Nov. 15. Another law requires a government official to wait two years after resigning before standing for public office, meaning Mr. Musharraf would have to wait before standing for office again.