BB says talks underway with Govt on 58(2)b

LARKANA—Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan People’s Party on Sunday said that negotiations are underway with the government for ‘restoration’ of democracy in the country. Talking to reporters here, she said that most of the problems had been sorted out with the government, the issue of the abolition of article 58 (2) B of the constitution was yet to be resolved.
Benazir Bhutto is presently on a visit to her native Larkana district. On Saturday, she visited the tomb of her father and the former Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. There are reports that both Benazir Bhutto and the government of President Pervez Musharraf are holding negotiations with each other and a final agreement is likely to be stricken within a couple of days.
Benazir hailed the decision of President Pervez Musharraf to doff his uniform before taking oath as President. However, she said many more steps were to be taken for ensuring real democracy in the country. She said she had taken her party into confidence on the issue of becoming prime minister for third time.
Benazir said that she wanted real empowerment of the people besides ending of unemployment and amelioration of the lot of the poor people. About the National Reconciliation Ordinance, the PPP chairperson said the cases instituted against her were not strong and while approving the ordinance, the federal cabinet had admitted that these cases were fabricated and based on vengeance. She describe it her moral victory. The former prime minister said that the people want free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
Central Leader of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P), Makhdoom Amin Faheem has said that hurdle for Benazir becoming prime minister for the third time could be removed before the existence of new parliament. Talking to media persons here, Makhdoom Amin Faheem said that article 58-2 (b) is a serious threat for democracy, which should be eliminated.
Commenting on the views of PML-Q leader about Karachi blasts, Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that PML-Q should wait till the final report of Karachi blasts. We are willing to negotiate with PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain if he is ready to do so, he added. He maintained that PML-N is a major political party of the country and the alliance of PPP with any political party would come out if it happens in future.
PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has said popular revolution is with her and she is not scared of threats and blasts. She said this while addressing a press conference here Sunday at the residence of senator Safdar Abbasi. “I want extremists should surrender and respect the constitution of the country” she warned. Dialogue can be held with non-violent groups but PPP cannot talk with those who resort to violence, she added. Extremists will not be allowed to flourish in the country, she underscored.
She went on to say the prevailing hatred in Balochistan should be countered through National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). She said private army and militia had been set up in Swat. If war lords continue to come into being like this then the situation will not be different from Afghanistan of president Karzai and Iraq where different factions were at war with each other, she cautioned.
She stressed all would have to learn lesson from the history that forgiving each other is the best practice. Muslim history is replete with such incidents that when the Muslims came into power they did not take revenge from any one, she underscored.—Agencies