10 November 2004	Wednesday	26 Ramazan 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: Former prime minister and chairperson of Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto has contradicted a spate of press reports that the Musharraf regime is engaged in some secret talks with the PPP.

According to the PPP media cell, Benazir Bhutto in a statement on Tuesday said her attention had been drawn towards persistent press reports about the so-called "secret Benazir-govt talks being underway".

She said: "The thrust of these reports is that the PPP has been asked to support General Musharraf continuing as army chief in exchange for release of Asif Zardari from prison, my safe return to Pakistan and elevation to the chairmanship of the Senate.

"I want to place on record that neither General Musharraf nor any member of his regime has made such an offer to me or to the Pakistan People's Party.

"Given the widespread nature of the press reports, i conclude that the reports are part of a deliberate campaign to create the perception that such an offer has been made to the PPP. This perception is wholly incorrect.

"As for the Party's demand that the politically-motivated cases against its leadership be withdrawn, the PPP has been demanding it since its government was overthrown in 1996.

This was given in a written memo to the Musharraf regime by the PPP delegation, which met General Musharraf in 2001 on the eve of his visit to New Delhi.

"Given that the regime withdrew cases against the members of the MMA, the MQM and others when there was an agreement, the PPP believes that were the regime to sincerely enter into a dialogue, it would do so in an evenhanded manner and on the basis of precedents it has set itself."

The PPP, she said, had welcomed the statements of PML members that political leaders be released unconditionally.