LAHORE, March 25: Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has said she will return to Pakistan ahead of next elections whether or not the rulers allow her to participate in them.

“Whether or not the rulers allow me to take part in the elections, I will return home at any cost, not for the reason that I want to become prime minister …. (but because) I owe to the nation to fulfil my pledge I have made to it,” Ms Bhutto told Online on Saturday.

Answering a question on her contacts and the much talked about ‘deal’ with President Musharraf , she said, “I am happy that some one has asked me this question as such reports from time to time find way in the media that Musharraf has contacted me through his envoys. The fact is that no one has met me.”

“We are ready for dialogue to forge national consensus. But it depends on the agenda, the PPP leader said.

“I am being repeatedly asked that I should stay outside the country so much so that I should not return to Pakistan to launch campaign for party candidates in the elections nor I should contest elections. If I don’t do so, I am told, I and my family will be ruined and my property and liberty will be snatched. This all can not be an agenda rather it is a flagrant threat.”

Answering another question on Commonwealth role in revival of democracy in Pakistan, she said Commonwealth had played a vital role in this respect. “However the army has unfortunately always sabotaged democratic system because it wants to remain at the helm of affairs,” she added.

About corruption charges against her, she said they were fabricated. “This can not be a reason for removing someone from power. The rulers say I purchased Surrey Palace out of the money I had collected through kickbacks. But now the court has proved that it is not owned by me and the foremost thing is that it is merely a house. My husband was involved in it but the court verdict has exonerated me from the allegation.”

About Gen Musharraf’s way of governance, she said when he came to power, people pinned high hopes on him but he dashed all hopes by forming the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) through intelligence agencies. “This party will no more exist after departure of Gen Musharraf,” she predicted.

She said that Gen Musharraf had taken steps only to please international community and had not paid any attention to addressing problems faced by the people.

“Musharraf talks of corruption but he has not disclosed his assets nor has released report on dues against him.”

Regarding his recent meetings with Nawaz Sharif in Jeddah and Shahbaz Sharif in Dubai, she said the efforts of the Commonwealth for restoration of democracy in the country were appreciated during the meetings. “We also agreed on supporting and strengthening the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy.”