September 30, 2002	Monday	Rajab 22, 1423

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NEW YORK, Sept 29: Saying that she will not return to Pakistan until allowed to contest elections, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto decried on Saturday that “democracy in Pakistan was a victim of Sept 11 attacks on America.”

Speaking at a meeting of the Pakistan People’s Party at a local hotel, Ms Bhutto said besides the people who died in the attacks and the innocent civilians of Afghanistan who suffered as a consequence of the attacks on America, “democracy in Pakistan has suffered a setback.”

She expressed the hope that the people of the greatest democracy in the world (US) would support the return of civilian order and rule of law in Pakistan and shun the army generals.

Ms Bhutto was of the opinion that the Oct 10 elections would, in fact, be “selections” through which the new setup would be chosen by the regime.

Speaking about her party’s standing, she said PPP candidates were being threatened and cajoled by the authorities to join other parties.

The PPP chairperson accused the generals of Pakistan of looting the country.

Referring to Okara issue, she accused the army generals of land grabbing by denying the rights to the real owners of the land.

About corruption charges, Ms Bhutto reiterated that she was willing to present herself in the court of the people. “Let the people of Pakistan decide whether they want me or not.”

The PPP chief lamented that the judges and courts in Pakistan had fallen victim to the military authority and judgments against her and her husband were being handed out without any basis or corroboration of charges.

Speaking about PPP’s alliances, she asked her party supporters to vote for the candidates of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), wherever PPP was not contesting.