Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto will unveil on Friday her return plan and future course of action amid reports that she has almost secured a power sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf.
The former self-exiled premier has called her legal emissaries to Dubai to finalise a proposed constitutional amendment package as part of the agreement, sources said. PPP legal star Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan has been called by Bhutto to Dubai to discuss the constitutional package as well corruption cases pending against her in Pakistan courts. Informed party leaders in Islamabad told Business Recorder on Thursday she might fly back home after the holy month of Ramazan and most probably following the presidential election.
They refused to disclose the exact date but said it was likely to be within a week of Eidul Fitr. The constitutional package both Musharraf and she have reportedly agreed upon envisages removing hurdles for both of them to become the President and the Prime Minister respectively.
It will remove a constitutional bar on Musharraf's becoming a civilian president after resigning as military chief. Also it will undo a condition that does not allow anybody become the premier for the third time. Bhutto had ruled twice in the past from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996 and now she wants to become the head of the government again.
Musharraf, who is passing through a worse political crisis in eight years rule, desperately needs PPP support to remain in power for five more years. Many believe the United States wants this arrangement.
Musharraf is ready to relinquish army chief slot, let her return and clear Bhutto of corruption charges she faces in courts. In return, Benazir will support his re-election as a civilian president.
Insiders believe the deportation to Saudi Arabia of another exiled Premier Nawaz Sharif early this week, was also part of Musharraf-Bhutto understanding. Sharif could spoil these arrangements through a political struggle, as he has gained popularity in recent years for challenging President Musharraf whose popularity, many believe, has been in free fall.
But Nawaz deportation does not mean all is well for the duo. There is another threatening reality. Ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president Chaudhry Shujaat, who remains a power master during the past five years with the blessing of Musharraf, is opposing this deal because he will not have any space in the future set up. He has in the recent past been openly criticising Musharraf talking to Bhutto to offer the biggest slice in the future fiesta and to seek political oxygen he needs to breath as president.
If the military ruler goes all for Bhutto, experts believe, Shujaat can really emerge as a spoiler. His PML has been supportive of Sharif's return. This, some others understand, is an indication that he may direct his loyalties to his old leader Sharif.
Things look contrary though. According to PPP sources, Bhutto would speak at a televised news conference at around 1700 hours Pakistan Standard Time. PPP leaders would also unveil the plan at news conferences in eight major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. In Islamabad, PPP president Amin Faheem and information secretary Sherry Rehman would talk to media.