|
- By Parinda News Bureau, January 31, 2006, 09:44 IST
London: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said she is planning to return to her country from self-imposed exile prior to the 2007 elections with a view to restoring democracy.
Bhutto also slammed President Pervez Musharraf for trying to undermine her cause by putting out "red notices" of the Interpol and with a view to embarrassing her on her visit to Washington.
"If General Musharraf spent as much time and energy on getting Osama bin Laden as he does on getting me, we might actually catch the man," Bhutto said.
Bhutto said in the interview that she "must go back to help Pakistan's democratisation process" before the next general elevation.
"I don't want the moderates squeezed out," Bhutto said, and having the only alternative in the country between the Musharraf dictatorship and the religious fundamentalists.
Pakistan and the Bush administration have gone through some difficult period in the recent past as a result of the American air strike in Damadola on 13th January leaving several civilians dead. Bhutto sees that problem as one of Islamabad failing to have government rule in those tribal regions.
If re-elected she would restore government rule there. "I think it's absolutely wrong that pro-Taliban elements should use our soil to step into Afghanistan to kill American forces, kill Afghan government officials and then run back across the border," Bhutto remarked.
The former Prime Minister has said that Gen Musharraf "may be doing the best" he can but that he is a military ruler relying solely on the military.
"A political government that has support among the people, and, therefore, the efforts of a political government can combine both popular participation as well as state force," she said.
Bhutto also said that she was not concerned about being arrested and extradited to Pakistan during her visit to the United States.
Interpol authorities have said that it is left to member countries to decide on the notices, in this case to Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari. The US Justice Department does not comment on these matters.
| 
