LAHORE, Nov 28: Defence minister Sikandar Iqbal on Thursday termed unfair Benazir Bhutto’s statement that she did not recognise the presidency of Gen Musharraf who should take off his military uniform.

Answering questions at a press conference, the head of the P-5 said that if mandated by Ms Bhutto, he could play a role in removing misunderstandings between Gen Musharraf and the PPP chairperson.

Gen Musharraf, he claimed, never wanted Ms Bhutto to stay out of the country for five years.

During his visits to the UAE, he said he had asked the PPP chairperson to return home. However, he regretted, she had no such plans for immediate future.

About the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s decision to withdraw its support for the Jamali government, the defence minister said he believed that the situation would return to normal in a few days. He said the relevant quarters were active in this regard.

In response to a question about the MMA, Rao Iqbal said religious parties had very good relations with the government which they would never like to sabotage.

He denied Ms Bhutto’s claim that PPP leaders had joined hands with the government for fear of the NAB. He said that of the 10 top leaders, only Faisal Saleh Hayat had owed some money to banks which he paid. “Now, Mr Faisal is also clean like the remaining nine.”

He did not agree to the observation that Ms Bhutto was a security risk. As for the cases against her, he said a number of those had been instituted without any justification.

However, he added that the pending cases would be decided by courts.

Responding to a question, he said Gen Musharraf wanted the government to complete its term.