Pakistan Ex-PM Bhutto Says No Deal With Government Yet – TV

Pakistan People’s Party [PPP] Chairperson Benazir Bhutto will return to Pakistan on 18 October. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan Television, she said that her return home is not the result of any deal with the government. Words within double slant lines were originally spoken in English.

[Benazir Bhutto] [Word indistinct] for restoration of democracy so that problems of the people are solved, poverty and unemployment is alleviated, and to give hope to the young people. However, as you know, the ruling party – PML-Q [Pakistan Muslim League-Qaid-i-Azam group] – did not want this deal for democracy to go through. Every day, the newspapers carried their statements that they were cutting PPP some slack. So there have been no positive results as yet. [end recording]

Referring to the negotiations with the government, she said no final solution has come out of the talks so far:

[Bhutto] We met them [government side] on 4 September and at that time some //propositions// were discussed and they told us that they would come back after two days but they never showed up. But I want to say that negotiations and our politics are two different things. Our party held a meeting early this year in which we decided that we will announce the //date// [of Bhutto's return]. So at the end of // August//, we held our //meeting// and we decided that the date will be announced on 14 [September] and now the //date// has been announced. We want fair elections to be held in Pakistan and if we see any signs that fair elections will be held, and a good system will be established to stabilize the country, then we will see. However, for the time being, despite all our efforts, we have not been able to reach some kind of agreement. [end recording]

With regard to the court cases against her, Bhutto said she will face them:

[Begin Bhutto recording] I have been facing the cases for 10 years now and, by the mercy of God, no sentence has been handed down to me. By the mercy of God almighty and the prayers of the masses, I have been acquitted in the cases in which the court proceedings have been completed so far. So, now, the cases have no standing or strength and as for facing the cases, my lawyers are representing me in each and every court of law. [end recording]

Originally published by PTV News, Islamabad, in Urdu 1800 14 Sep 07.

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