WASHINGTON, May 27: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz urged his two predecessors — Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif — on Sunday to consult their legal advisers before returning to Pakistan to participate in the next elections.

In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, the prime minister also addressed the issue of cross-border terrorism into Afghanistan, emphasising that this was basically an Afghan issue

and “the battle has to be won” there.

Interestingly, while Mr Aziz advised other leaders currently living abroad to “consult their legal advisers” before returning, he said that Ms Bhutto cannot participate in the elections even if she returned.

“She has several legal cases pending against her and she cannot participate in the elections because of these cases,” Mr Aziz said.

Other government officials, including some members of Mr Aziz’s cabinet, however, express a different opinion on this, indicating that the government was discussing a possible arrangement with Benazir Bhutto which may allow her to return home before the elections.

Mr Aziz, however, emphasised that despite the absence of their leaders, both PPP and PML (N) were participating in every political activity and were “an active part of the opposition in parliament.”

The prime minister refused to comment on the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry because it’s “sub judice” but did say that whatever the government did was in line with the constitution and the laws of the country. He said the matter was before the Supreme Judicial Council and the Supreme Court and they will give their judgment, whenever they complete their deliberations.

The government, he said, believed in an independent judiciary and has always promoted its independence.

Mr Aziz said that the government allows people to disagree with it and termed this "a healthy sign of a tolerant society".

“The spring has come and gone -- we are in the midst of summer -- and there has been no offensive,” said Mr Aziz while referring to the US government’s claim that the Taliban were planning a major offensive this spring.

The prime minister said that Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and deputy Ayman al-Zawahri were not hiding in Pakistan's tribal belt.

“We have no tangible evidence to corroborate" this claim, Mr Aziz said when asked about a recent US intelligence report that both Al Qaeda leaders were hiding along the Pak-Afghan border.