NEW YORK, July 10: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, Faisal Saleh Hayat, on Saturday defended his decision to defect from Pakistan Peoples Party to join the military-led government saying that PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto was power hungry and had no interest in democracy.

Responding to questions at a convention of overseas Pakistanis at the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York where one delegate accused him of defecting from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to secure a ministry in the military-led government.

He insisted that he was still loyal to the party’s principles. However, he had developed differences with Ms Bhutto’s actions and policies.

Mr Hayat recalled that he had wanted her to return to Pakistan from her self-imposed exile in Dubai ahead of the elections, but he said she was afraid of being arrested.

He defended President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s decision to keep the post of army chief.