Bhutto may align with Nawaz if deal with Musharraf fails

WASHINGTON: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that in the event of the much touted 'deal' with President Pervez Musharraf failing to materialize, she might join hands with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif if he agrees to part ways with the Islamist Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.

Bhutto said she was negotiating with President Prevez Musharraf against the wishes of many in her party because of the confidence of the international community and the armed forces in him.

"If our negotiations with Musharraf fall apart, we can always turn to the other political party," she told the The Washington Post and Newsweek.

"Nawaz Sharif and I had a falling out over the MMA. I think they (MMA) are the supporters of extremist groups. Nawaz wanted an alliance with them and I did not. As long as he is with them and they are in government, we will go as a third force," the Pakistan People's Party leader said.

The Pakistan People's Party chief, however, said that time for negotiations was "running out and both sides will know shortly where each stands".

"Many in my party have been urging me to distance myself from General Musharraf. They say his popularity ratings are down," she said.

"But I am trying to convince them that the international community and the armed forces have confidence in Musharraf, and therefore we need to work out a solution."

Bhutto said she was facing pressure from two sides--those in the party who believe in dialogue and those who think that time is running out and that she cannot continue talking "unless there are upfront confidence-building measures."

The 54-year-old who is living in self-exile for last eight years said that Musharraf has been told that there cannot be an extension on his tenure as chief of army staff but said that he will still control the military as the commander and chief.

"He has said that he would respect the Constitution. Even if the president is not the army chief of staff, he would still appoint the heads of the military, so he would still control the military as the commander in chief," Bhutto said.

Bhutto said she has been demanding "a balance of power", electoral reforms, lifting of the ban on a twice-elected prime minister for running for a third term, as well as immunity for all holders of public office prior to 1999 or 2000.

"Where there are unproven charges that go back now for more than a decade or two, a chapter should be closed. General Musharraf has told me he wants this," Bhutto said.

She said that there are still issues that stand between her and Musharraf one of which being the power of the President to sack Parliament which was used in the 1990s to destabilise democracy.

"Yes, and I don't want the security services to disagree with my attack on internal militancy and get him to sack the parliament once again. I'd be setting myself up to repeat the past. Which is why president must give up the power," Bhutto said.

Musharraf, the former Prime Minister said, is not looking for the support of her political party but wanted to avoid a public agitation.

"He doesn't want our support, but he doesn't want us going out on the streets and agitating against him.... My party says that we have to oppose the presidential election because it is illegal. I have said that if he takes confidence-building measures, then we don't have to vote for him but we don't have to create a ruckus in the streets," Bhutto said.

"He told me, 'I don't want your vote.' I advised him that it was better not to seek election from this assembly but to seek election from the next assembly because he would have greater legitimacy without a uniform, elected by a democratic verdict. But he has a different perspective," she said, adding they have now left it for the courts to decide,"

In an interview to 'The Sunday Telegraph', Bhutto said the time for negotiations with the General is running out.

"While we have been holding negotiations for the transition to democracy, no agreement or understanding has yet been reached," she said

"Time is running out and both sides will know shortly where each stands," she said.