Deal on Musharraf Passes Lower House

Pakistan’s lower house of parliament passed a landmark constitutional amendment giving the president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, extraordinary powers in return for a promise that he will quit his army post by the end of next year.

Supporters hailed the legislation as a return to democracy, while opponents staged a walkout and decried the deal as a cosmetic change to what they say is essentially military rule.

The decision will allow Musharraf to serve out his term as president, which ends in 2007, and formalize special powers he had given himself allowing him to sack the prime minister and disband parliament by decree.