Nuke weapons not safe in military regime: Benazir

New Delhi, Jan 5: Underlining that nuclear weapons are not in safe hands in a military dictatorship, exiled former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto has said that her country should not expect to get offers like the Indo-US Nuclear Deal unless democracy was restored there.

Ms Bhutto said the geopolitical reality was that India was today vital to US and the new world order.

''Obviously I would want Pakistan gets all such offers that India gets. But the reality is that India has continuity in terms of political institutions unlike Pakistan. And we wont get such offer,'' she told TV channel Aaj Tak in an interview to be telecast on Sunday night.

''I do not believe that in a military dictatorship nuclear weapons can be in safe hands. I feel that only a legitimate government that respects rules can ensure that weapons of this nature are not misused,'' she said.

''This entire Abdul Qadir Khan episode proves that in the past it was not in safe hands. There are a lot of challenges in Pakistan and we have to create an image that we are a law-respecting country,'' she added.

Replying another question, Ms Bhutto asserted that the bar on a person from becoming prime minister for more than two occasion incorporated in the constitution during the Military regime would not come in her way, if her party wins the general electons likely to be held in October this year.

''Such a ban had been in place in Turkey too, but when a party won the elections there, the law was scrapped. So this ban on me in my country can be removed too,'' she said.

Ms Bhutto said she will be the first choice for Prime Ministership of her country if her party returns to power.

She also revealed what Nawaz Sharif had told her in London two years ago that in case their parties win elections in Pakistan her People's Party of Pakistan(PPP) should get the first chance for the post.

''The people of Pakistan love me, the party workers also want to see me as the PM. That is why it has been decided that I will be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party,'' she said.

UNI