'Sharif, Bhutto will now be allowed to return before polls'

ISLAMABAD: Amidst reports of talks between government emissaries and the PPP leader, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif will not to be allowed to come home before the next general elections expected by the year-end.

"No Benazir and Nawaz cannot return before elections", Musharraf said in response to a question during an interview with a private television 'AAJ' to be aired on Friday.

However, he said the matter of their return may be considered after the elections, which must be held by January, 2008.

Recent media reports have indicated that Bhutto, who lives in self-exile in Dubai, has agreed to support Musharraf's re-election in return for the country's National Accountability Bureau dropping a host of corruption cases against her.

Sharif, who was deposed by Musharraf in a coup in 1999, lives in London.

On talks with India, Musharraf said Islamabad and India are exploring different options and are closer to the resolution of this dispute.

On the judicial crisis arising out of the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikar M Chaudhry, Musharraf said the issue of reference against Chaudhry was being politicised and the May 12 incidents of violence in Karachi, in which over 40 people were killed, was the result of politicisation of this judicial issue.

"Now when the full bench of Supreme Court is hearing this case, why this judicial issue is being converted into a political one", he asked.

Musharraf said the people, who are giving ethnic colour to the Karachi incidents, are playing with the destiny of the country.

"If ethnic violence starts in Karachi, we will turn back to the 1990s to the detriment of country".

On the issue of extremism, the Pakistan President said the phenomenon of militancy and extremism was on the rise in the country. "There is an increase of extremism and militancy in the country. We have to counter it. We have to face it."

He said there are Al-Qaeda elements in Mir Ali and Waziristan areas and they would be eliminated through intelligence operations.

To another question, he said for him the country has foremost importance and there was no question of linkage with any group.