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Benazir admits to deal

ISLAMABAD: Despite a mind-numbing blitz of contradictory statements and denials over the last few days from both sides, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto has admitted to a “confidential understanding” with President Pervez Musharraf over his uniform issue, and about her return from exile.

Within hours of Ms. Bhutto’s remarks, her spokesman said: “The uniform was not an obstacle” as President Musharraf was entitled to keep it on until the end of his first term on November 16, an indication that the PPP may not oppose the President’s re-election bid, due anytime between September 15 and October 15, while remaining Army Chief.

In her clearest statements yet on the widely reported and denied “deal,” Ms. Bhutto told Reuters in New York that forcing Gen. Musharraf from power through a street agitation could lead to another spell of military rule or an extremist takeover.

But for the “understanding” with him to come through, the regime had to implement certain “confidence-building measures” by August-end, such as withdrawing cases against her and enabling her to become a third time Prime Minister on which there is bar at the moment.

The two-time Prime Minister said she wanted to return to Pakistan most likely in mid-October, around Id, to participate in the parliamentary elections that she expected would be held in October or November.

President Musharraf said on Saturday that Ms. Bhutto, and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif must not return to Pakistan before the elections in the interests of maintaining a “conducive atmosphere” for the elections.

“I would like to go back to Pakistan sooner rather than later, but General Musharraf still is opposed to my return to Pakistan.

“He is prepared for my return to Pakistan but the timing of it is under dispute between the two of us,” Ms. Bhutto said.

The former Prime Minister declined to confirm or deny a meeting between her and President Musharraf in Abu Dhabi on July 27, but said she and the Government had been in negotiations “for a long period” of time.

“We have discussed the uniform issue and both sides have reached a confidential understanding on it. We have discussed my return issue and we’ve also reached a confidential understanding on that.”

In Islamabad, PPP spokesman Farahtullah Babar stressed that party still opposed a President in uniform. But significantly, he also said: “Under the Constitution, the term for Musharraf to keep uniform will expire on November 16 before the general elections subject to the Supreme Court not intervening earlier. Within that context, the issue of the uniform presently is not the obstacle”

Ms. Bhutto told Reuters she was waiting for the government to implement a series of “confidence-building measures” which included free and fair elections. Rigged elections would be a “deal-breaker,” she said.

But the government also needed to take “upfront” steps immediately.

“Time is running out. The ban [on her becoming Prime Minister for the third time] has to go, the indemnity [withdrawal of cases against her so that she is insured against arrest on arrival] has to come by the end of August”.

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