PPP Chairperson Benzair Bhutto has emphasised that the purpose of her negotiations with President Pervez Musharraf is to strengthen the forces of moderation and called for immunity for all holders of public office prior to 2000.
In an interview with The Washington Post, posted on its web site on Saturday, the former primer minister also reiterated her call for early confidence building steps. "We want a balance of power, reforms for a fair election, lifting of the ban on a twice-elected prime minister (running for a third term), as well as immunity for all holders of public office prior to 1999 or 2000. Where there are unproven charges that go back now for more than a decade or two, a chapter should be closed," she said.
Her conversation with the paper took place in New York last week and will appear in Sunday edition of the Post. The former prime minister said in response to a question that many in her party have been urging her to distance herself from President Pervez Musharraf.
"They say his popularity ratings are down. But I am trying to convince them that the international community and the armed forces have confidence in Musharraf, and therefore we need to work out a solution [with him]. Our goal is to strengthen the forces of moderation and that's why we've been involved in this negotiation with General Musharraf.
"Now we are at a critical point where I am being tugged in two directions - between those in the party who believe in dialogue and those who think that time is running out and that we can't spend more time [talking] unless there are upfront confidence-building measures," she stressed according to excerpts of her conversation put on the paper's internet site in advance.
Answering another question, Benazir Bhutto said she has been clear that her party could not have a working arrangement with the army chief. "His term finishes either this November or December, so we are concerned that there should not be an extension on that."
Asked about President Musharraf's response, she stated he has said that he would respect the constitution. "Even if the president is not the chief of army staff, he would still appoint the heads of the military, so he would still control the military as commander in chief," she added.
Identifying issues she wants resolved, Benazir Bhutto pointed to the power of the president to sack the parliament. "This power was used in the '90s to destabilise democracy, so we are saying it must go." However, she observed that is one issue.
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