The greatly anticipated power-sharing deal between President General Pervez Musharraf and former self-exiled Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been signed and endorsed by the cabinet. After hectic negotiations between the government and Benazir Bhutto, chairperson of secular Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the two sides Friday announced that the power-sharing deal had been finalized and signed. The accord, called the "national reconciliation ordinance," is expected to be made public later today. The accord dusts a huge amount of pressure off President Musharraf, who is desperately trying to save his political career and secure another presidential term at the cost of his military uniform, which he has said is essential to fight terrorism.
Meanwhile, in an informal hurriedly-called cabinet meeting in early hours of Friday -- chaired by Musharraf and attended by the prime minister -- the deal ordinance was endorsed.
According to the deal, President Musharraf will be elected for a second five-year term, all corruption cases against Benazir will be annulled and a constitutional amendment will be introduced for Benazir's re-election as the prime minister of Pakistan for the third-time.
The agreement was reached amid the Supreme Court resumed hearing into legal petitions against the approval of Musharraf's nomination papers as the presidential candidate. The court is expected to give its verdict Friday. There were reports that the presidential elections, to be held on Saturday, are expected to delay.