BB blames Govt for Country’s isolation
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto has said that the suspension of Pakistan membership by the Commonwealth had demonstrated once again that Musharraf regime’s policies had led to increasing isolation of Pakistan in the international community and had harmed thevital interests of the country and its people.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting in Kampala on Thursday suspended Pakistan from the 53-national bloc pending the return of the rule of law following the imposition of emergency rule on November 3.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, Bhutto said that the suspension from Commonwealth showed that the concerns of the democratic forces in the country were also shared by the international community. She called upon Musharraf to immediately reverse its policies “aimed at strengthening dictatorship” so as to end Pakistan’s isolation.
She said that it was shocking that small coteries had resorted to policies to perpetuate themselves in power even at the risk of endangering the welfare and well being of 160 million people of the country by making Pakistan a pariah state in the comity of nation.
“Those who claimed ‘Pakistan First’ had been exposed as their policies were driven by self first and not ‘Pakistan First’,” Bhutto remarked. Taking another U-turn, the Pakistan peoples Party (PPP) has hinted at recognizing General Musharraf as a civilian president in a complete variance with its earlier stand that it does not recognize him with or without uniform.
“ We have to sit again and re-think because the situation has totally changed. The Supreme Court must have considered all the factors behind that steps (taken by General Musharraf) before allowing him to continue as president, therefore, we should respect this judgment”, PPP Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who had filed a petition in the apex court challenging acceptance of General Musharraf’s nomination papers as a presidential candidate by the election commission, told Online here on Saturday. He said his party accepted the Supreme Court’s verdict endorsing the imposition of state of emergency in the country by President General Musharraf on November 3, and certifying his re-election on October 6.
“Supreme Court is the highest judicial forum in the country, therefore I will not criticize its judgment. Whatever it has declared, I am bound to accept that”, he maintained.
Asked whether the PPP still sticks to its stand that it neither recognizes General Musharraf as the army chief nor the president, Mr Fahim said that situation had “totally” changed after the apex court’s verdict, therefore the party leadership had to chalk out a new policy in this regard, which needed some time.
“Give us some time to decide the future plan”, he added. .Earlier, the PPP Chairperson, and former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto had announced that her party did not recognize General Musharraf as president or army chief, and that she would not work as prime minister under him.
However, the party sources says that after some “assurances” by the US deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte, who recently visited Pakistan, Ms Bhutto has asked the party leadership to mild its tone against General Musharraf. To a question whether the PPP will consult the opposition parties in order to evolve a joint strategy after Supreme Court’s verdict, Mr Fahim said “ We will consult the opposition parties, but it is not necessary that we follow them blindly. We will adopt a strategy, which should be in favor of the country and our party”.
The Judge of Special Accountability Court No.2 Ch. Muhammad Younas here Saturday deferred hearing regarding assets references against the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, her spouse Asif Ali Zardari and other co-accused till December 15. The above mentioned accused had moved applications for withdrawal of references filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in corruption cases after the promulgation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) last month.