Pakistan's parliament has passed an historic constitutional amendment that gives U.S.-backed 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 Monday as a return to democracy, while opponents staged a walkout and decried the deal as window-dressing on what they say is essentially military rule.

The vote came five days after a surprise deal between Musharraf and a hardline Islamic political bloc, the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, or MMA, which has been highly critical of the U.S. led war in neighboring Afghanistan, and voiced support for that country's ousted Taliban regime.

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

In return, Musharraf agreed to step down as army chief, the main source of his power, by December 31, 2004.

"The approval of these constitutional amendments is the beginning of real democracy in Pakistan," said Azeem Chaudhry, a spokesman for Musharraf's ruling PML-Q party.

Opposition lawmakers were unconvinced -- and a large bloc walked out of Monday's session, allowing the legislation -- the 17th amendment made to Pakistan's 1973 constitution -- to pass by a vote of 248-0.

"By approving these amendments, the ruling party and MMA have reimposed military rule," said Ahsan Iqbal, chief coordinator of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party. "They are taking us backward as far as the evolution of democracy is concerned."

The amendment must now go to the Senate, but approval there -- possibly as early as Tuesday -- is seen as a formality. Musharraf would then seek a vote of confidence which is assured of passage because of the MMA support.

The general, who came to power in a 1999 military coup, has become a key ally in the U.S. war on terrorism, backing American military action in neighboring Afghanistan and arresting more than 500 al Qaeda suspects in his own territory.

Under the agreement, Musharraf was forced to scale back somewhat the extraordinary powers he decreed himself. He must now consult the prime minister before sacking him, and he must seek approval from the Supreme Court within 15 days of taking such action.

The bill ended a yearlong stalemate that has paralyzed parliament. Opposition legislators -- led by the MMA -- had blocked most debate since late 2002, shouting down speakers, banging on their desks and staging mass walkouts.

The deal was a strange marriage of convenience between Musharraf and the religious coalition, which won unprecedented support in last year's elections on the strength of an anti-American, anti-Musharraf platform.

The coalition can claim victory in forcing Musharraf to eventually leave the army post, while the general comes away with a one-year pass as military and political boss and clearer sailing in his bid to serve out the final 3 1/2 years of his presidency.

Musharraf won a five-year presidential mandate in a highly controversial 2002 referendum in which he was the only candidate.

The vote comes on the heels of two separate assassination attempts against the 60-year-old leader, the last coming on Christmas Day as the president's motorcade was making its way through a crowded street in Rawalpindi, just outside the capital.

Three suicide bombers detonated two explosives-packed pickup trucks, killing 15 people and getting close enough to crack the windshield on Musharraf's limousine. The general was unhurt.

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