Negotiations with Mush can be resumed: Bhutto

Islamabad, Dec 8: Pakistan People"s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has said that negotiations with President Pervez Musharraf can be resumed.

"Talks with Musharraf"s aides have been clogged, but can be recommenced for a smooth transfer of power and return of real democracy. We had held negotiations with Musharraf"s aides in the larger interest of 160 million people," she said.

Commenting on the opposition parties Charter of Demands (COD), Bhutto said that the CoD would be implemented in two phases -- one would be completed by the joint committee of the ARD and the APDM, while the other by the leadership of the key parties.

In case of differences, she said: "If a unanimous decision was not taken by the leaderships, we would contest elections under protest."

Replying to a question on the restoration of deposed judges, Bhutto said the issue should be left to the next Parliament.

When asked to comment about the MMA"s announcement of election boycott, she said: "The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) will never boycott elections. Its parliamentarians did not fulfil their commitment to resign that they had made with the nation on the issue of the Women"s Protection Bill."

"The MMA had also announced to quit Balochistan Assembly in All Parties Conference (APC), but they failed to do that, so how they can boycott election," she asked.

Bhutto also claimed that she had information about a master plan to rig elections in 108 constituencies in Punjab.

"The district Nazims are interfering in the electoral process and running the campaign of PML-Q candidates. Ghost polling booths are being established," The Nation quoted Bhutto, as alleging.

"The district Nazims are using government resources and using transports for the campaign of PML-Q candidates," she added.

Bhutto claimed that federal government had given six billion rupees to the local government for this purpose.

She also demanded that an independent Chief Election Commission should be pointed for holding free, fair and transparent elections. ANI>