Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) spokesperson has said that Musharraf's aide Tariq Aziz has not met former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Dubai and nor is he scheduled to meet her. The PPP spokesperson said here on Sunday that a news item to this effect had been planted in the press claiming that the regime has offered Mohtarma safe return to Pakistan, withdrawal of cases as well as share in an interim regime which she has rejected. No such offer has been made, he said.
These press reports are baseless. It has been repeated time and again since September 2004 for reasons best known to those who are planting it.
The PPP believes that this story is being planted by those who want to divide the opposition or want to convey to Musharraf that PPP has refused his mediation effort if indeed he has made such an effort or want to convey to the national and international intelligentsia that PPP is being unreasonable in refusing the return of Benazir, withdrawal of cases as well as participation in an interim government.
The spokesperson said that the news report that Benazir Bhutto was waiting for a visa from Saudi Arabia to perform Umra is also incorrect. While BB wishes to apply for a Saudi visa, she has not done so as she is awaiting receipt of her passport which has been held up by the regime for the last three weeks.
As soon as the passport is given to her, she will apply for a visa and visit Saudi Arabia for Umra with her spouse Senator Asif Ali Zardari, the spokesperson said.