May 17, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 4, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 16: Pakistan People’s Party has claimed that the government has renewed its offer to Benazir Bhutto to step aside from contesting the elections and convert her exile into a voluntary one, a claim disputed by the government.

A statement issued by Benazir Bhutto’s media cell said that the party had rejected the offer saying that it was neither new nor conciliatory.

The PPP for the first time admitted that government had offered Ms Bhutto to quit politics in order to pave the way for conciliation with Gen Musharraf regime.

It said, “a party representative was contacted to renew the old offer that Mohtarma should unilaterally step aside from contesting the forthcoming elections and turn her exile into a voluntary exile.”

It also denied report that Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE held two brief meetings with Ms Bhutto.

“The PPP has always kept the doors of dialogue open to facilitates the democratization of Pakistan and transfer of power to the elected representatives.”

The president’s spokesman Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi refuted the claim that government had made any indirect offer to former prime minister.

Reaffirming President Musharraf’s determination not to let Ms Bhutto contest the elections, he said, there were cases against her and she would have to get herself cleared before qualifying to contest the elections.

He pointed out that a court had even declared her absconder for not appearing before it.

When asked whether Ms Bhutto would be arrested if she returns to Pakistan, he said, law would take its course and courts would decide her fate.