8216;Victory means more problems for Musharraf8217;

Should the court rule against him it will likely plunge the world8217;s only nuclear-armed Islamic nation into chaos.

Political turmoil distracts from Islamabad8217;s military efforts in the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, which US officials have pinpointed as Al-Qaeda8217;s new base for launching international terror attacks.

Yet if Musharraf is proclaimed the victor, Pakistan8217;s future remains on a knife edge, with general elections scheduled by January 15, 2008 8212; and in Pakistan political differences are often resolved with Kalashnikovs.

Despite a vow to quit his military role after he wins, he would still face questions over his political legitimacy as the only army chief ever to be elected president in Pakistan8217;s 60-year history.

8220;Musharraf has won his expected victory but it certainly does not reduce the political uncertainty in the country,8221; political analyst Nasim Zehra, a commentator for the respected English-language daily The News.

The first of the legal challenges against the vote 8212; that he was ineligible to stand as army chief 8212; he can get around by quitting the position as promised by November 15, the end of his current term, his aides say.