Musharraf sincere; faction opposing deal, says BB

NEW YORK—Calling President Pervez Musharraf ‘sincere’, PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto says her ongoing dialogue with the general is aimed at taking Pakistan out of military rule to democracy. “People of Pakistan want change. They want a society free from terrorism and suicide bombings,” she said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Thursday.
She said some significant progress was made in the negotiations. Advisers on both sides have said it is likely a deal will be announced soon. But Ms. Bhutto acknowledged that some issues remained unresolved and claimed there was a strong faction in the government resisting any agreement.
“This is such a roller coaster that one cannot be sure about the final outcome,” Ms. Bhutto was quoted as saying. “Gen. Musharraf is sincere, but there are some vested interests who do not want to see a peaceful transition from military rule to democracy.” A major point of difference still to be resolved is diluting the current power held by the president to dissolve Parliament. “There is need for a balance of power between the president and the Parliament,” she said. Ms. Bhutto said she will decide next week when to return to the country
Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former premier Benazir Bhutto has feared that there would be public uprising if her party’s ongoing talks with Musharraf’s government failed.
In an interview with an American daily, Benazir warned of possible peoples’ uprising like that of Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004 if they failed to reach an agreement. She said that President General Pervaiz Musharraf is sincere, but a faction in the government opposed to the deal.
Benazir Bhutto, who was Pakistan’s premier for two terms, said the people of Pakistan want rule of law, change and a society free from terrorism and suicide bombings. She said the power-sharing deal she is negotiating with President Pervez Musharraf is designed to achieve a peaceful transition to democracy and a stronger balance between the powers of the president and Parliament.
Commenting on the law and order situation in Pakistan she said there is unrest in the country. “Tribal areas are dominated by pro Taliban and pro al Qaida elements. Even Pakistan army soldiers are being kidnapped and the country’s unity is at stake,” she stated.
People, she said, want peaceful transition to democracy. Replying to a question regarding progress in the ongoing talks with the government, she said some significant progress was made in the negotiations. She, however, admitted that some issues remained unresolved and claimed there was a faction in the government resisting any agreement. About the outcome of the ongoing negotiation, she remarked, “This is such a roller coaster that one cannot be sure about the final outcome.” —Agencies