Describing the re-election of President Pervez Musharraf [Images] as a "perversion of democracy," a leading US daily has asked his "enablers" in Washington to make it clear to the general that he must respect the decision of Pakistan's Supreme Court if it rules that he is ineligible for another term in office.

Criticising the "backroom" deal between Musharraf and former prime minsiter Benazir Bhutto [Images], the New York Times said rather than encouraging such "cynical deal-making," Washington should have encouraged a "more-inclusive election process."

Under the deal, the Times in an editorial said, the "flawed former prime minister and leader of Pakistan's most popular party gets to return home, escape prosecution on corruption charges and if all goes according to plan, stand for another term. And Musharraf gets to claim to the Pakistani people and Washington that he's moving toward civilian rule."

Stating that vote in the last weekend's presidential election is "not really a vote" since the opposition parties refused to participate, the paper said the Supreme Court has yet to decide whether Musharraf was even eligible to run while still in uniform.

The paper also asked the Bush administration to make it clear to Musharraf that he should start moving his country towards rule of law.

If Pakistan's Supreme Court rules that Musharraf is ineligible to be president, the paper said he must step down and allow what didn't happen this weekend -- a real free vote.