NEW YORK, Aug 7: The leader of Pakistan People’s Party and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has reiterated in an interview that she seeks a “balance of power between the president and the prime minister” and a division of authority on security matters.

In the interview with Bloomberg television on Tuesday, Ms Bhutto said she wanted President Gen Pervez Musharraf to surrender his authority to dismiss the country’s parliament.

“We’re really looking for a transition where the powers are carefully demarcated as to who will be responsible for security or who will be responsible for tackling internal militancy,” Ms Bhutto said.

As to her reason to return home while she is under threat of incarceration, Ms Bhutto said: “I feel the very unity of Pakistan is under threat from the militants and the terrorists who have risen in power since I left Pakistan.”

She noted repeatedly that she did not want Pakistan’s legislature, last elected in a vote criticised in 2002 as rigged, to become a “rump” parliament, Bloomberg TV reported.

The former prime minister was also critical of Gen Musharraf’s approach to dealing with militants and said much of Pakistan’s intelligence services – and cabinet – is rife with sympathy for Al Qaeda and the Taliban, which were strengthening in the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan.