Pakistan Ex-PM Bhutto Says Resolving “Remaining” Issues With Musharraf

At 1800 gmt on 29 August, the Dubai-based Geo News TV in Urdu carries live a 10-minute interview with former Pakistan prime minister Ms. Benazir Bhutto on phone line from London by senior Pakistani journalist Kamran Khan in studio in Karachi. The interview is part of regularly scheduled “Today with Kamran Khan” programme”. Words in double-slashes were originally in English.

Kamran Khan first notes that both the government and Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party [PPP] have reported that a “broad understanding” has been reached between them and “legal shape” is now being given to the understanding. Continuing, Khan says the issues on which understanding has been reached will have “direct impact on Pakistan’s political future” and consolidate Pakistan’s “political moderate forces” and it now appears that President Pervez Musharraf, Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party [PPP], and the “// establishment//” would jointly work together to fulfill Musharraf’s “determination and agenda to eliminate extremism from the country.”

Kamran Khan asks Benazir Bhutto whether it has been included in the reported broad understanding that “Musharraf would be re- elected for another term from the present assemblies.” Sidestepping the question, Bhutto says: “You see, 80 per cent understanding has been reached, but 20 per cent still remains. Some issues are yet to be settled and now the discussion is now focused on the //timing of elections//.”

Continuing, Bhutto says she wants to take the country toward “democracy.” Bhutto adds: “Elections should be fair and as a result of the elections a //civilian president// emerges. People’s representatives should be elected in the elections, who should solve the people’s problems like unemployment and poverty along with providing security to the common citizens from threats like terrorism. And after that, the basic needs of people like education and health should also be met. So, I think that these are necessary things and we are trying and holding talks in this connection and you should pray that we arrive at some positive conclusion.”

Khan says it appears that Bhutto is not giving “specifics” of the understanding because one more round of negotiations is still to be held and then there will be a “joint announcement.” Bhutto says: “You see, some issues are still //unresolved// like a balance between [the powers] of the presidency and the parliament. Talks are continuing on this issue. And then there is this //eligibility issue – presidential eligibility issue or presidential election issue// and some //fine tuning// is to be done on these issues. So, talks are continuing in this connection and in case an //understanding// is reached, we have jointly decided on some steps which are required for reaching a joint agreement and it will be announced.”

Khan asks whether these steps will be in form of a “// constitutional amendment package.//” Bhutto says: “a // constitutional amendment package// will be there, but some announcements will be made before that.”

Khan asks whether the negotiations with Musharraf team also included the role of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Sharif or whether these were “specifically” between the PPP and the government. Bhutto says: “the principles which we are talking about are for all provinces of Pakistan and for such a political system, which encompasses all parties and political personalities.”

Bhutto says that she wants to see “representative governments” for all four provinces. Continuing, Bhutto says: “when we talk about //eligibility//, we do not say that only me or Musharraf are made // eligible//. We say that every //twice-elected// [former] prime minister, including Nawaz Sharif, should be made //eligible//.” Bhutto adds that she is also negotiating withdrawal of court cases filed not only against her, but against all politicians. Bhutto says: “that is why we are talking about //immunity// about all those people against whom nothing has been proved.” Bhutto says she talks about the need for a balance of power between the Presidency and the parliament because she wants to see that problems faced by the country like “insurgency” and //civil unrest// in Baluchistan and “uncertain situation” in tribal areas are resolved. Bhutto adds she wants a //people-specific system//.”

Khan asks whether there will be another round of talks with Musharraf’s team after two of its members, Director General of Inter Services Intelligence Gen Ashfaq Kiani and President’s Chief of Staff Gen. Hamid Javed, return to London after consulting Musharraf in Islamabad.

Bhutto says she is trying to resolve “//one or two// remaining // points//.” Bhutto says: “we want a fair //caretaker government// and fair elections.” Bhutto expresses her gratitude to the Supreme Court for picking up the electoral rolls issue and is trying to resolve it. Bhutto says: “We have covered a long distance, but as I said 20 per cent still remains.”

Khan notes that Bhutto is seeking indemnity for all politicians. Khan asks Bhutto whether she also wants to see that the government ignores the understanding reached between Nawaz Sharif and the Saudi government under which Sharif family was sent into exile. Bhutto says: “Nawaz Sharif did not take us [PPP] into confidence that he had reached an understanding with General Musharraf to leave for Saudi Arabia and we do not know what //guarantees// had been given by Saudi Arabia or not. Our politics is not //person-specific//.

Our politics is for principles.” Bhutto says the people should decide whether a person should be elected prime minister only for one term, two terms, or three terms. Bhutto says politicians, former ambassadors and civil servants against whom nothing has been proved since 1999 should not be prosecuted. Bhutto says: “we talk about principles irrespective of our friends or opponents.”

Originally published by GEO TV, Dubai, in Urdu 1800 29 Aug 07.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring South Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.