FACTBOX: Who stands to win or lose in Pakistani vote

(Reuters) - The assassination of Benazir Bhutto sucked the oxygen out of campaigning in Pakistan for Monday's election that is meant to mark a transition to civilian-led democracy.

No one has dared speak out as forcefully as Bhutto did against Islamist militancy and need for democracy in a nuclear-armed Muslim state on the front line of a war against al Qaeda.

The following are profiles of politicians with most at stake in polls for national and provincial assemblies:

PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF

* It's not a presidential election, but the outcome of the vote is vital for Musharraf's future. A hostile parliament could try to impeach him for the "unconstitutional" way he got himself re-elected for a second five-year term by the outgoing assemblies, and imposed six weeks of emergency rule in November to get rid of judges who could have annulled his victory.

* Musharraf, 64, came to power as a general in a bloodless coup in 1999, ousting prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He first became president in 2001. He quit as army chief in November, weakening links with the institution that has been the greatest source of his strength.

* He has survived at least three al Qaeda inspired assassination attempts after becoming a U.S. ally following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

* The alliance with the United States, and authoritarian responses to political challenges over the past year have caused Musharraf's popularity to plummet.

CHAUDHRY PERVEZ ELAHI

* The Chaudhrys of Gujrat are an influential political family in Punjab. They worked with intelligence agencies to herd support for Musharraf by taking over Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League. While called the PML, it is usually referred to as PML-Q or Q League to differentiate it from Sharif's wing.

* Elahi, former chief minister of Punjab, Pakistan's richest and most populous province, is a cousin of PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. A recent survey by U.S.-based International Republican Institute said only 5 percent of people saw Elahi as the best person to handle Pakistan's problems.

* Regarded as opportunists, the Chaudhrys are also seen as conservatives, sensitive to the religious lobby, who have failed to help Musharraf set a more liberal agenda.

ASIF ALI ZARDARI

* Bhutto's 51-year-old widower is not standing for election. But having been made joint chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) along with his son 19-year-old Bilawal, in accordance with Benazir's wishes, Zardari's calling the shots for a party that is likely to emerge with the largest number of seats.

* The mustachioed Zardari has a reputation for warmth and loyalty to friends. But he is dogged by the nickname "Mr Ten Percent". He spent 11 years in jail for graft and other charges. Never convicted, he says the charges were politically motivated.

* The government last month said it would pursue an old money laundering case against Zardari in a Swiss court.