Ms Benazir Bhutto moved decisively into new political territory yesterday when she called on Gen Pervez Musharraf to resign as president of Pakistan, declared she will not serve as prime minister under him, threatened to boycott the elections he has called for January 9th and demanded the United States stop supporting him.
This is a real departure from the attempt she has been making in recent months - with US support - to forge an alliance with Gen Musharraf on condition that he stood down as army chief of staff. His refusal to do so, followed 11 days ago by the declaration of a state of emergency and repressive moves against opponents, including Ms Bhutto's followers, has proved the last straw for her.
It is difficult to see how Gen Musharraf can survive this latest shift in the Pakistan crisis, since Ms Bhutto's pronouncements deprive him of any substantial political support. He needs such a base, notwithstanding his continuing support in the armed forces. Pakistan cannot easily be ruled any longer by military means alone after this year's events. Gen Musharraf's statement that he proclaimed the state of emergency to resist pressure from Islamic extremists lacks conviction compared to his fear that the supreme court would disqualify him as president.
If elections are held in January the victors will not want to co-operate with him. Although there has been a reluctance in the wider population to rally towards opposition parties discredited by previous periods in power, there is a definite awakening of civil sentiment in response to the latest arrests of lawyers and activists, suspension of the constitution and censorship. An election campaign would crystallise such sentiment. Ms Bhutto has presumably calculated that whatever chance she had of convincing popular opinion to support her seeking a political compromise with Gen Musharraf before the state of emergency has now irretrievably eroded. She had a strong card to play by rejecting him and has now done so in the hope that this will boost her party's chance of winning an election.
The other main opposition party led by Nawaz Sharif had regained some credibility during her negotiations with the regime. But they will have to compete with Islamic and other alternative parties if the elections are held.
International pressure to see the crisis resolved has intensified as the US sends a special envoy to see Gen Musharraf in coming days and Britain joins in the effort to see military rule lifted. Gen Musharraf needs their military aid and would be in much greater difficulty if they conclude he can no longer deliver the security they need in Afghanistan. It is a volatile situation, in which he could come under army pressure to depart, perhaps encouraged to go if Gen Ashfaq Kiani, the man he recently nominated as deputy chief of staff, receives support to replace him. It should be remembered that Pakistan has nuclear arms and there are valid fears about how any prolonged struggle involving the military, political parties and Islamic movements might play out.