August 17, 2007 (LPAC)--Acting tough, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that the country's presidential elections will be held between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15, according to the country's constitution. On Aug.16, Musharraf flew to the Pakistani city of Faisalabad and told the parliamentarians that he is going to contest the election "in uniform" and it is fully according to the law and constitution, Pakistan's Minister for Textile Industries Mushtaq Ali Cheema told Reuters.

On Aug. 14, the Bush administration had sent U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Richard Boucher, to Pakistan on a two-day visit to convey to President Musharraf, that while U.S. values Pakistan as an ally and a strategic partner, Washington would like President Musharraf without uniform holding a free and fair election ushering in a democratic form of government in Pakistan before the year is over.

In addition, it has been announced that US Deputy Secretary Of State John Negroponte, who is much higher in State Department's hierarchy, is all set to fly to Islamabad on a three-day visit from September 10 to 12 to discuss the uncertain political situation in Pakistan. The Bush Administration is no longer sure how long the current power-holders in Islamabad will remain in a position to call the shots, the Daily Times of Lahore reported.

It is likely that President Musharraf is preparing to defy Washington's diktat to shed uniform and share power with someone like Benazir Bhutto, chosen by the United States. It seems Washington is losing confidence in Musharraf and has come to the conclusion that Musharraf will be unwilling to deliver whatever Washington wants.