LAHORE, April 12: PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto does not want to return to the country, says Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat.

“I am at loss to understand why Ms Bhutto is reluctant to return home, though she is a bold leader and had remained in jail for many years,” the minister said at Meet the Press programme of the Lahore Press Club on Saturday.

“We had been giving dates (to the masses) about the possible return of Ms Bhutto and the last such deadline was given at the time of the general election. But for unknown reasons she never turned up, causing loss to the party (in elections).”

Mr Hayat, who is also PPPP (Patriots) leader, said in response to a question that a political committee would be formed to discuss all the outstanding issues, including the LFO. However, he added that the LFO had become a part of the constitution and it was irreversible, as almost all the political parties had accepted it by taking part in the elections held under it.

Replying to another question, he said the federal government was not interfering with the provincial affairs by keeping the respective provincial government uninformed of raids on any suspected Al Qaeda members. “The most important thing about raids is that they are confidential (which cannot be damaged by leaking information to too many agencies).”

He claimed that the centre was having a close interaction with the provinces on the issue and the strategy in vogue had been devised after consulting the provincial governments.

Asked if the government would hand over Iraqi ambassador to America as it had done in Afghanistan’s case, the interior minister did not directly reply to it.

He, however, said the government did not close Iraqi embassy despite rumours of the US pressure in this regard.

About attacks on gas pipelines allegedly by the Bugti tribesmen, he said the civil government was trying to solve the issue through a political dialogue, and claimed that it had gained a substantial success in this regard. He did not rule out an administrative action, if required so.

He admitted that there were genuine problems of the (Sui, Balochistan) area (that prompted the lawlessness). The issue must be solved, he added.

Highlighting his ministry’s performance during the last four and a half months, Mr Hayat claimed that 90 per cent cut in terrorism and 80 per cent reduction in sectarian incidents had taken place compared to the corresponding period last year. He denied that the Imambargah attack in Karachi last month was of sectarian nature.

Pledging to continue police reforms introduced by the last army set-up to improve its performance, he said all the reforms given by the NRB would go on.

He said the police reforms would give their results after all institutions like public safety commissions and justice committees were set up and made functional.

Mr Hayat said intelligence sharing agreements were being signed with France and other countries, as a French delegation would reach Pakistan next month for the purpose. Personnel of law-enforcement agencies were also being sent abroad for training, he said.