WASHINGTON, Oct 6: In the lead editorial in its late Saturday edition, the Washington Post described President Pervez Musharraf’s election as an ‘ugly victory’, achieved through an electoral college having little legitimacy.

“Already tainted, the general’s mandate will also be tenuous because the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the result cannot be certified until it rules on whether Mr Musharraf is violating the constitution by entering the election without stepping down as army commander-in-chief,” the Post observed.

“The good news is that Pakistan’s autocratic but ineffectual leader will probably surrender a large share of power in the coming weeks,” the Post said while noting that Gen Musharraf had promised that if granted a new mandate as president, he would give up his military command.

If he fulfils his promise, according to the newspaper, the Supreme Court might overlook the legal problems with his election.

Commenting on the power-sharing deal between Gen Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto, the Post noted that her party hoped to win parliamentary elections due by early next year and return her as prime minister.

The newspaper predicted that in a few months Pakistan could be governed by a troika of Mr Musharraf, Ms Bhutto or another civilian prime minister, and the likely new army commander, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Bush administration, according to the newspaper, has been quietly pushing for such an outcome while publicly proclaiming disinterest in Pakistan’s internal affairs, and hopes that it will strengthen the government both politically and militarily in what, right now, is a losing battle against extremism – including Taliban and Al Qaeda forces that have gained control over a large and growing chunk of western Pakistan.

The problem with this convoluted process was that it might involve very little democracy, the Post warned. Though Ms Bhutto says her deal with Mr Musharraf is meant to ensure that parliamentary elections will be free and fair, it appeared yesterday that another major Pakistani political figure, Nawaz Sharif, could be excluded.

The Post warned that though relatively popular while in exile, Ms Bhutto could quickly be discredited if she was seen to be gaining power through backroom deals with Mr Musharraf. It noted that the government had recently conducted a crackdown on opposition leaders from Mr Sharif’s party, as well as on the media.

Unless the crackdown is reversed and a credible parliamentary election is held, Pakistan’s moderate and secular centre will continue to be at war with itself while its enemies grow steadily stronger, the Post concluded.