Unpopular, politically isolated and desperate for support from the parliament that emerges from the January 8 poll, Musharraf now has to contend with two rivals he has spent much of the last eight years trying to marginalise and called corrupt.

He allowed Benazir Bhutto, another two-time former Prime Minister, to come back to Pakistan last month protected from old graft charges in the hope she would become a post-election ally. Relations between Musharraf and Bhutto soured almost at once when a suicide attack killed at least 139 at her homecoming parade on October 19. They worsened after Musharraf called an emergency, sacked judges, detained lawyers, opposition and rights activists, and muzzled the media. Many of those initially detained have been released, but others have been held since. Sharif intends consulting with Bhutto?s Pakistan People?s Party to see if they can work out a common strategy.

Bhutto welcomed Sharif's return, saying she wanted a level playing field for all parties.

The signs are that Bhutto, who filed her nomination papers on the day before, intends to contest the election. Sharif party spokesman Ahsan Iqbal said Sharif was expected to file at a Lahore court house, but the party might later withdraw in the event of an opposition boycott.

Musharraf?s camp hopes Sharif?s party will take part, as a poll without the main opposition parties would lack credibility and ultimately undermine the president, one of Musharraf?s close aides told Reuters.

<B>Going ga-ga over Benazir?s glam looks</B>

Pakistan is in turmoil, but that does stop many from talking about former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto?s (photo) looks and her dress sense including her trademark white scarf.

Jemima Khan, former wife of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who has launched the Free Pakistan Movement in London, wrote a long piece in the Guardian calling Bhutto, who was once on People magazine?s ?50 most beautiful people list?, ?A Kleptocrat in a Hermes scarf?.

?She?s back. Hurrah! She?s a woman. And she?s not bad looking either. Benazir may speak the language of liberalism and look good on Larry King?s sofa, but both her terms in office were marked by incompetence. Make no mistake, Benazir may look the part, but she?s as ruthless and conniving as they come ? a kleptocrat in a Hermes headscarf.? Pop diva Madonna is famous for flaunting her Hermes scarves along with several other fashion divas. Bhutto?s ?diamond studded designer fashion glasses?, have also become the cynosure of all eyes. A senior journalist with CBC also wrote about her designer glasses: ?With her designer glasses and bright lipstick she looks like a young version of Greek singer Nana Mouskouri.? He goes on to add that her ?glamorous looks have made her a media darling in the West?.