LAHORE, Aug 7: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto says the military regime is still in contact with her and pressing the proposal that she should stay away from elections.

She insisted, however, that her leadership was necessary for peace within and peace without. “I have the experience and the team, as well as the popular support [needed] to build a prosperous and progressive Pakistan.”

In an e-mail interview with Dawn on Wednesday, she said there had been “many contacts, same offer: I should stay out of the electoral contest.” She was asked if the government had contacted her recently and whether there had been a new offer.

“This is the one objective they are seeking to achieve through legal changes and new decrees. It is making a mockery of the promise of fair elections by [Gen Pervez] Musharraf. More importantly, it is increasing the miseries of ordinary Pakistanis. Utility prices keep going up. Inflation is hurting the middle classes and unemployment is harming the youth. Democracy and development go together.”

Ms Bhutto was asked what would be the fate of the PPP founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after the formation of the PPP-Parliamentarians. She said the PPP founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto continued to exist as a non-PPO party of which she remained the chairperson. Its role, she said, would remain the same as before: to build a federal, democratic and egalitarian Pakistan.

The four Ps, she said, derived power from the three Ps which would support the former in the general elections. The PPP, she said, had done its best to qualify for registration but the regime had kept changing the laws.

How can you contest the election for the office of the president, she was asked, as you are reportedly aspiring if you are not allowed to become prime minister for a third term, not even to become member of the National Assembly or Senate, the PPP chairperson was asked. “I am qualified under Pakistan’s laws,” she answered. “The Musharraf laws seeking my disqualification are violative of Pakistan’s constitution.”

Asked how could an election for the office of the president be held when there was no vacancy since the general had already got himself another five years, she said:

“Let the issue of the parliament be settled first. Then, I will answer this question.”

When it was pointed out that only recently she was reported to have said in an interview that she would be ready to share power with Gen Musharraf, and that her candidacy for the office of president seemed to be in conflict with that position, the PPP chairperson said:

“I am asked questions by journalists and I answer them. My answers are consistent although the context can be different.”

What, in your opinion, will be the impact on the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy of Shahbaz Sharif’s election as president of the PML? How will the development affect the PPP’s relationship with the party? she was asked.

Ms Bhutto said: “The [Sharif] family has taken a decision which the party has supported. We are working with the PML in the ARD and would continue to do so.”

About the future of the ARD, she said the alliance had been formed to restore the democratic process in the country and would continue to work towards that end.

Asked who would be the PPPP’s allies and rivals in the elections, Ms Bhutto said the military hardliners who had created the Al-Qaeda, the Jaish-i-Muhammad and other such groups were the ones who had destabilized her government and would be her rivals in the elections. “They choose different persons and parties as a front at different times. Let’s see who they choose now. As far as the army and its chiefs are concerned, I had good relations with them and continue to do so. It’s some of the intelligence operatives and political class which worked with Gen Zia during the Afghan Jihad that oppose my leadership.”

Replying to a question, she said the regime had stated it would hold elections and unless they stated otherwise, she would expect them to hold the polls on schedule.

When do you plan to return to Pakistan? she was asked, your critics say you will not return without a deal with the military regime.

Ms Bhutto said: “My critics have their point of view. I have another. I plan to contest the elections and return irrespective of what the regime has to say.”