'Musharraf on horns of election dilemma'

Even if Pakistan had held elections on time instead of delaying them in the wake of the chaos unleashed by Benazir Bhutto's killing, President Pervez Musharraf was set to lose, analysts say.
Had election officials heeded calls by Pakistan's opposition and the world community to proceed with the January 8 polls, Bhutto's party and others could have ridden a wave of grief over her death, they say.
But the postponement of the vote for nearly six weeks until February 18 has put its credibility in doubt, with Musharraf's opponents alleging the move is designed to buy time to rig the electoral process.
Analysts say that key US ally Musharraf was damned if the polls went ahead and his backers lost -- a move that could have left him open to a no-confidence vote in parliament -- and damned if they were held up.
Far from convincing a sceptical public that the security situation needed stabilising after riots that left nearly 60 people dead, the decision has reinforced the perception that the vote could end up a farce, they say.
"The decision to postpone is a sign of weakness and the elections will not be viewed as credible," Najam Sethi, the editor of Pakistan's Daily Times newspaper, told AFP.
"It was taken in disregard of the opinion of the opposition and was based on the recommendation of bureaucrats who owe their allegiance to the former government," he said.
"It is clear that they had already made up their mind and were just looking for an excuse. He acknowledges the fact that his party has lost -- this is not about law and order."
Musharraf said in a televised address to the nation Wednesday that rioters who caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage had destroyed voting offices and burned electoral rolls in several areas of the country.
"The postponement was unavoidable and the decision by the election commission is correct," the president said.
The parties of Benazir and ex-premier Nawaz Sharif said they would take part but condemned the delay -- with a Benazir aide saying she was going to reveal evidence of rigging plans involving election officials hours before her death.
Public scepticism over government explanations for Benazir Bhutto's death, coupled with allegations by her supporters of government involvement, meant that Musharraf's justifications were likely to fall on deaf ears, analysts say.