She met Musharraf in Abu Dhabi last month to discuss a possible power-sharing deal, ahead of the elections planned for around the end of 2007. Bhutto said she was open to such a deal as long as Musharraf gave up his role as head of the military. “The military is the problem,” she said. “True democracy will deal with the social and economic needs of the people of Pakistan.” She also called on the international community to support a transfer to a regular democratic government in Islamabad.
Bhutto’s premiership would depend on a constitutional amendment that would allow prime ministers to serve a third term. An amendment limiting PMs to two terms was inserted by Musharraf in 2003 to prevent Bhutto and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif - whom Musharraf ousted in the 1999 coup - from taking office a third time as both have ruled the country twice.
The United States has been pressuring Pakistan to crack down on parts of the region, which it says are harboring fighters loyal to the Taliban extremist movement battling US and international forces in Afghanistan.
“The money that has gone into Pakistan so far has not led to the pacification of the tribal areas where people are desperately poor and the militants exploit this poverty to hire them as soldiers,” Bhutto said.
“Our people have been thrown to the wolves. They’ve been thrown to the militants.” In another interview with a private TV channel, Bhutto termed the negotiation between the PPP and the government as a “struggle just for the restoration of democracy”.
She contradicted the impression that the talks between the PPP and the government were on the directives of Washington and London.
“The religious militancy can lead Pakistan to a civil war. Abhorrence against army among people living in Balochistan is increasing day-by-day due to military operation there. The solidarity and integrity of the country is in danger”, Bhutto said. “The Taliban have established their own government in the tribal areas. They impose tax on people and kill them by declaring them as spies.”
Separately, in an interview with Eric Margolis, she vowed to end her exile and go home “with or without an agreement” with Musharraf between September and December.
Bhutto confirmed she had indeed held rounds of intensive talks with Musharraf, former PM Nawaz Sharif and senior US State Department officials. She said that she had not reached any power sharing agreement with Musharraf but next two weeks would be crucial.
The End
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
