Bhutto denies backroom deal with Musharraf

New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto today denied she had struck any backroom deal with President Pervez Musharraf, saying the talks were about restoring democracy in that country and not ways to clear her and her husband of corruption charges.

In an interview to Times Now television channel, to be telecast tomorrow, Ms Bhutto said she was shocked at suggestions that the special operations group of the National Accountability Bureau of Pakistan was wound up because it was the best way to close cases against her and her husband Asif Zardari.

"Ignorant people may fall for such delusions but the fact is that not a single case against me or my party has been dropped. I am still on the Interpol list and if I wanted to settle all my cases, I would have done that in 2000, when this regime agreed to do so in return for my staying out of Pakistan for ten years," she said.

Ms Bhutto dared Gen Musharraf to arrest her when she lands in Pakistan.

According to her, unlike in 2002, when she was not allowed to contest the parliamentary elections, she had decided to return to her country this time, and the fear of arrest would not make her change her mind.

"Of course, I know I can be arrested. I know it and it is a risk I take. I know that I will be arrested tomorrow if I go back to Pakistan. The reason I have not gone back so far is to help my party.

But I know that the time has now come for me to go back to Pakistan," she said.

"In 2002, I was going back but they banned me from contesting for parliament. And 2002 was too close to 2001. Then I did not want to give the military government an excuse to not fight terrorism and put the blame on me saying the political situation was too disturbed. But we are talking of 2007, and I feel that there is nothing to stop me from returning to my home," she said.

Ms Bhutto said that Gen Musharraf's recent comment that she and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief could not return to Pakistan had complicated the situation. But she appeared confident that Gen Musharraf's position on this was not final.

She also said that she hoped to change the law against thrice elected prime ministers, that stops her from having another term as head of government.

"I will go back to Pakistan. I plan to contest the elections.

And all this will happen between now and the end of this year because elections are at the end of this year. It's true the President doesn't want me back now. And we do not have an agreement now. So he has his position. And we have our position." When asked about her serving as prime minister under Gen Musharraf if he gives up his uniform, she said: ""All this is speculation. I intend to contest the elections. My party intends to win the elections. And if the people of Pakistan give us a big enough majority, then I tend to repeal the ban on a thrice elected prime minister." Ms Bhutto held out an olive branch to Mr Sharief, saying that her Pakistan People's Party (PPP)would have local level adjustments with his Pakistan Muslim League (PML).

"Yes in many areas where we (the PPP and the PML) have common interests we will certainly be making adjustments. But they will be fighting on their symbol, and we on ours. But we would be having adjustments as the situation demands from area to area." The former prime minister said Gen Musharraf was talking to all groups.

"...my impression is that all groups are being spoken to and some in the past have reached an understanding with the uniformed president. The only national political party that has not done so with the uniformed president is the Pakistan Peoples Party," she said.

She said she could not say if her party's talks with Gen Musharraf would lead to any satisfactory conclusion.

"But we are interested in seeing the army go to the barracks," she said.

UNI