Report about Benazir Bhutto's meeting with Musharraf denied

02 Apr, 2005

Benazir Bhutto has not met President Musharraf nor her spouse Asif Ali Zardari would meet him in near future, her spokesman said here on Friday. Ex-prime minister's spokesman, Senator Farhatullah Babur was commenting on a report in the Indian media, which quoted her having said that she had a "fruitful" meeting with General Musharraf recently in Jeddah. Babur also denied that she had told the Indian media that Asif Ali Zardari would be meeting the general on April 16, after his arrival in Pakistan.
"Both the assertions attributed to her are not correct and appear to be based on an incorrect understanding of what she said," Babur told the Business Recorder after talking to Benazir Bhutto on phone.
He said reference to 'fruitful' meeting is about her meeting with former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and not General Musharraf.
"She has not met Musharraf ever since the General dismissed an elected government and re-wrote the Constitution and even well before that," he added.
Benazir Bhutto also did not say that Asif Zardari will meet General Musharraf, the spokesman said, adding, "All that she said was Asif Zardari would return to Pakistan to boost the democratic struggle in the country."
Farhatullah Babur said that meanwhile on arrival in Jaipur (India) on Friday on a two-day private visit, the former prime minister accompanied by Asif Ali Zardari went straight to the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia in Ajmer Sharif to pay homage.
Later, they returned to Jaipur where the Chief Minister Rajhastan hosted dinner in their honour, he added.
"At the shrine she also prayed for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan," her spokesman said.
Farhatullah Babur said Benazir Bhutto also addressed a press conference on Friday.
"She said that during her last visit to the shrine which took place at the time when the troops of the two countries were standing in eye ball to eye ball confrontation she had prayed for de-escalation of tension and also for the release of Asif Ali Zardari."
"She said that both her prayers were answered and hoped that her prayer now for restoration of the Constitution, democracy and early elections would also be answered", said Babur.
According to Babur, Benazir Bhutto welcomed the peace process in the region manifested in the bus and cricket diplomacy and called for early opening of the Khokrapar rail-link and extension of links between the East and West Punjab.
Benazir Bhutto informed her spokesman that Asif Zardari would return to Pakistan on April 16 to boost the struggle for restoration of democracy, holding of elections this year and pave way for her return.
The couple would be returning to Dubai on Sunday.

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