Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has sent representatives to
London to negotiate with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on a
power-sharing pact, an official and newspapers said yesterday.
Pakistan is facing weeks of uncertainty and the risk of turmoil
as army chief Musharraf prepares to secure another term as
president while his opponents vow to restore civilian rule.
"We are in contact with Benazir Bhutto, that's true," said
Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani, referring to newspaper
reports that three senior Musharraf confidants were in London for
talks.
Musharraf, who analysts say is at his weakest since he took
power in a 1999 coup, met self-exiled Bhutto in Abu Dhabi last
month. Liberal-minded Bhutto is seen as a natural ally of Musharraf
who promotes a vision of "enlightened moderation" for his country.
Both oppose Islamist militancy.
Her Pakistan People's Party is generally seen as the country's
most popular party, and a pact with her would broaden Musharraf's
support base.
Bhutto, a two-time prime minister who still has corruption
charges hanging over her, has said any deal would depend on
Musharraf taking confidence-building steps by the end of
August.
She wants immunity for the actions of civilian governments from
when she first came to power in 1988 and the lifting of a ban on a
prime minister serving a third term.
She is also demanding that Musharraf resign from the army and
reforms that would ensure a fair election.
"If our negotiations fall apart, we can always turn to the other
political party," she told Newsweek magazine in its latest
issue, referring to the party of her old rival, another former
prime minister in exile in London, Nawaz Sharif.
Last week, Musharraf issued a call for reconciliation with
everyone and some Pakistani newspapers reported that Musharraf had
also sent representatives to talk to Sharif but Durrani denied
that.
Sharif, also a two-time prime minister, was ousted in a 1999
coup and later sent into exile by army chief Musharraf.
(China Daily via agencies August 28, 2007)
