KARACHI: In the interview with The Sunday Times of London that is now at the centre of a fresh controversy over a possible deal between the People’s Party and Gen Pervez Musharraf, Benazir Bhutto claimed that such a deal was in Pakistan’s interest.
The report — titled “Defiant Bhutto plans return” — was written by Dean Nelson, the newspaper’s South Asia Correspondent. Here are some excerpts from the story:
“The former prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, is to make a defiant return from exile to lead her party’s election campaign and seek a controversial third term in office. Bhutto, 53, has vowed to go back despite the danger of assassination by Islamists whom she accuses of bringing “Taliban campaigns” to Islamabad, capital.
“In an interview with The Sunday Times, she said she was not afraid: ‘I don’t worry about it. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go. I’m committed to contesting the elections.
“Bhutto is convinced that Musharraf, 63, will secure a second term as president by seeking re-election from the current parliament, where his supporters have a majority. She claimed it would be in Pakistan’s interest for them to reach an accord.
“Bhutto, speaking from her home in Dubai, said she wanted a deal with the president but that it would be ‘premature’ to say one was imminent. Her supporters are looking for ‘confidence building’ measures to convince them that Musharraf is acting in good faith. Top of their list is a demand that corruption charges against her are dropped, along with a constitutional ban on anyone serving more than two terms as prime minister.
“According to Bhutto, who was the youngest person and the first woman to be leader of a Muslim state in modern times, Musharraf changed the constitution to prevent her or Nawaz Sharif, her erstwhile rival who was deposed by Musharraf in his 1999 coup, from returning to power.
“She accepts that her relationship with the president will be difficult.”
