Pakistan's Bhutto presses President Musharraf to leave army post

Exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto acknowledged having talks with Pakistan's government, but said President Gen. Pervez Musharraf must resign his army post before her party enters any political pact.
Pakistan is buzzing with speculation that Musharraf could cut a deal with Bhutto that would allow her to return to Pakistan before parliamentary elections due around the end of 2007 — and perhaps win a third spell as prime minister.
In return, Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party could help re-elect Musharraf as president and implement his U.S.-backed program to counter Islamic radicals, including Taliban and al-Qaida militants near the Afghan border.
In an interview with Geo television broadcast late Monday, Bhutto said talks were under way with government emissaries "for the restoration of democracy."
However, she said reports of progress toward a deal were exaggerated.
Courtesy: IHT

No Deal with Pakistan Govt; Benazir assures Nawaz

Two ex-Prime Ministers of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto have had a surprise meeting in Dubai on Saturday to mull over the political situation in Pakistan.A media report said on Saturday that Ms Bhutto assured Mr Sharif that no deal between her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the government was in the offing. She told Nawaz Sharif that only routine talks were being conducted with government emissaries. Tariq Aziz, secretary of the Pakistan's National Security Council met with Ms Bhutto prior to her meeting with Sharif. Their talks were inconclusive, but they appear to have prompted Ms Bhutto to call on Nawaz Sharif, adds the report. Both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif have been in Dubai for quite some days now, and rumours had been flying around that Mr Sharif was extremely perturbed by reports of an “imminent deal” between the government and the PPP.Ms Bhutto personally took the initiative to visit Mr Sharif on Saturday to dispel these concerns. She assured him that details of any talks or deal with the government would be shared with him, since the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was a partner of the PPP in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy. On his part, Mr Sharif made it clear that ARD parties were worried and suspicious of the situation, and the PPP should make its stand clear since one of the conditions in the ‘Charter of Democracy’ signed by the two former premiers was that neither party would do a deal with the present government in Pakistan. Nawaz may Quit ARD Yet, another report, carried by the newspaper said Sunday that the Chief of PML (N), Mian Nawaz Sharif has threatened to quit ARD in case of any deal between PPPP and government. Mian Nawaz Sharif made his intentions clear to Ms Benazir Bhutto during his talks with PPPP leader at the Dubai residence of Ishaq Dar, and has warned her of PML (N) parting ways with PPPP since “principles” laid down by “Charter of Democracy”, would be severely compromised in case some deal was made. Responsible sources of PML (N) informed news agency Online that Mian Sahib had informed Ms Benazir Bhutto about the doubts and reservations of other political component parties of ARD, who take the issue as a conspiracy to weaken the ARD. Sources have informed that Benazir Bhutto has outrightly denied any instance of deal with the government, but her candid confession about “mere talks and routine connections” have confirmed various leaks, which were being vehemently denied by PPPP, and were the main cause of Mian Sahib’s consternation. Mian Sahib has reportedly protested about the secrecy of these “mere talks”, and has warned that these endeavours could seriously jeopardize the ARD alliance, since it would only strengthen the notion about Benazir’s agreement with the regime.An earlier story said that former premiers Mian Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto met in Dubai on Saturday and mulled over important socio-political affairs of the country.Both the leaders were in Dubai for quite some days but there had been no meeting between them, causing all kinds of rumours to surface, out of which Mian Nawaz Sharif’s purported unhappiness over the “possibility of an imminent deal” of Benazir Bhutto with current government.Ms Benazir Bhutto personally took the imitative to visit Mian Nawaz Sharif on Saturday and made it clear to him that any talk or deal with the government would be shared with him, since PPPP is a partner of ARD. She also assured Mian Nawaz Sharif that no deal was in the offing, just routine contacts were being made. On his part, Mian Nawaz Sharif made it clear that ARD parties were quite worried and suspicious of the situation, and PPPP should make its stand clear since the condition of absolutely no deal with a tyrant has clearly been implied by “Charter of Democracy”. Prior to the meeting Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar also met Ms Benazir Bhutto and had suggested to her to meet Mian Nawaz Sharif to allay his doubts. Pakistan Observer contacted media coordinators of both PPP and PML-N to confirm the reports about the meeting and get more information in this regard. Media coordinator of PML-N, Ahsan Iqbal confirmed the meeting saying it was a private meeting without any political agenda.Ahsan Iqbal said Benazir Bhutto rang up Mian Nawaz Sharif and expressed her desire to come to his house to congratulate him on the birth of his grandson.“Mian Sahib cordially reciprocated her good sentiments and wishes and welcomed her at his residence”, Ahsan Iqbal remarked adding that the meeting was just private in nature as no political issue was discussed in it.He said that though the political circles were terming the meeting of vital significance but it had nothing of political nature.On the other hand PPP spokesperson Farhatullah Babar at first denied reports of the meeting saying he was unaware about the latest happenings in Dubai. Responding to query about the political significant of the meeting, Babar said that if the meeting had taken place then it might be of private nature. “Perhaps she had gone to congratulate Mian Nawaz Sharif on the birth of his grandson”, he remarked. According to another report, Ms Benazir Bhutto held inconclusive talks with the government’s emissary Tariq Aziz in Dubai on Saturday. However, the PPP leaders, including Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who are presently in Dubai along with Ghulam Mustafa Khar, had out-rightly rejected any planned talks between the two sides. On Saturday, the government emissary, Tariq Aziz called on the former Prime Minister and deliberations were held between the two sides for quite some time.However, informed sources said that the talks remained inconclusive as both sides could not evolve consensus on major points of any expected deal. Of PPP, MQM Alliance Meanwhile, a report from Lahore says that the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and government coalition partner the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) could be allies in the next general elections, as they were in 1988, PPP General Secretary Jahangir Badr said here Saturday. “Political parties should always keep all options open. The MQM was a PPP ally in 1988 so there is no harm in making an alliance with it again,” said Badr while talking to Peoples Labour Bureau Head Abdul Qadir Shaheen and PPP Punjab deputy secretary information Iqbal Sialvi. He said if personalities like Abida Hussain and Fakhar Imam, former Muslim League stalwarts, could join the PPP, there was no reason why the PPP could not make alliance with the MQM. MQM sources said that the party’s top leadership was seriously considering an alliance with the PPP. Another reason the MQM is moving towards the PPP is the difficulty the party is facing establishing a foothold in Punjab, largely due to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, “who whenever he gets an opportunity creates hurdles in the working of MQM in Punjab,” the sources said. “The MQM is going to break its alliance with the govt soon over the Women’s Protection Bill or whatever issue it can exploit against the ruling PML,” said a senior MQM official.
Courtesy: PT

Pakistan's ex-PMs Benazir Bhutto & Nawaz Sharif seek US help for fair polls

Former Pakistan prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto have stepped up their overtures to the Bush administration, apparently in the belief that that the US alone can nudge President Pervez Musharraf towards holding free and fair elections.
The political rivals, engaged in forging opposition unity from their exile in Dubai and London, have also toured the US in the last month.
After a recent meeting in London, they had chided the West in general and accused it of 'hypocrisy' for being keen on democracy in neighbouring Afghanistan, but not in Pakistan.
Sharif, whom Musharraf deposed in 1998, told a US House of Representatives team in London last week: '2007 is a defining year for Pakistan. If elections are rigged, the country will plunge into deeper political crisis. The opposition parties are committed to restoring supremacy of constitution, rule of law, and ensuring fair and free elections in the country.'
Sharif lamented the continued US support to Musharraf at the meeting with the delegation of US House of Representatives subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, led by its Chairman John Tierney, at his residence in central London, The Nation reported.
He complained that Musharaf had played the extremists' threat only to perpetuate his rule whereas the people of Pakistan had always supported moderate parties and ideas.
The US delegation, on its way to Pakistan on a three-day visit, expressed strong support for restoration of democracy and holding of fair and free elections in Pakistan.
They said: 'Congress is considering proposals to link Pakistan's economic assistance with progress on fighting terrorism and restoration of democracy. In this connection the delegation will meet with the representatives of the government, political parties, and civil society to formulate its recommendations.'
The American legislators assured Sharif that they would stress upon the Bush administration the need to hold free and fair elections and the participation of the entire political leadership in the process.
The US has also indicated its readiness to let Musharraf seek a second term in the presidency after which he might be confident enough to hold general elections.
Outgoing US envoy to Pakistan Robert C. Crocker told reporters here last week that it was 'for the people of Pakistan' to choose the type of democracy they desire. The US was not prescribing anything.
But the opposition says Musharraf's attempt would be patently illegal and even unconstitutional since the present parliament and provincial legislatures that form the electoral college have already elected him once in 2002.