Unofficial results showed Pakistan's Gen Pervez Musharraf sweeping today's presidential election, but the Supreme Court could still disqualify the military leader.
Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq announced that Gen Musharraf had won 252 of the 257 votes cast in Parliament, with three ballots judged invalid and two votes going to his main rival, retired judge Wajihuddin Ahmad.
Pakistan Television reported unofficial results that Gen Musharraf had also swept the voting in three of Pakistan's four provinces. Vote counting had yet to start in the fourth province of Sindh.
The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the official results can only be declared after it rules on petitions lodged by Gen Musharraf's opponents that his candidacy is unconstitutional.
Hearings will resume on those petitions on October 17th, meaning that even if Gen Musharraf wins he would have to wait at least 11 days before knowing whether he could take up office.
His current presidential term expires November 15th. Speculation persists that if he is blocked, he might declare martial law.
Gen Musharraf has seen his popularity plummet since a failed bid to oust the country's top judge in March, and has promised to give up his powerful army post if he wins the election and restore civilian rule.
He says he wants to stay on to continue policies that have turned around Pakistan 's economy despite its position on the frontline of the American-led war on terrorism.
The US-allied leader looks set to hatch an alliance with Ms Bhutto after parliamentary elections due by January. Yesterday, he signed into law an amnesty quashing corruption charges against her and other politicians.
That persuaded Ms Bhutto's party to withdraw a threat to resign from Parliament, as other opposition parties have done, although they will still abstain from the vote.