"Musharraf Knows A Fair Election Will Bring Me To Power"

Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto continues to haunt President Pervez Musharraf, who has now brought about sweeping changes in the country's Constitution that would render it impossible for her to return to Pakistan—and participate in its polarised polity. The military regime, for instance, has debarred any person who has been prime minister twice from seeking a third term. In this e-mail, Benazir Bhutto, who is currently in the US, tells Mariana Baabar her future plans. Excerpts.

Did you meet Nawaz Sharif on your recent trip to Jeddah?

Do you have any plans of returning home now that the military regime intends to make it impossible for you to contest elections?

Why do you feel the regime is getting cold feet as the October polls come nearer? How would you describe the latest order proscribing prime ministers to go in for a third term?

As chairperson of the largest political party, how do you view the latest constitutional package?

How would your party respond if the regime bulldozes through these amendments before the October elections?
We will continue to speak up for what we consider is right for our people and the country.

How do you see the fate of these amendments once they are placed before Parliament? (All amendments introduced from the time Musharraf took over must be ratified by the new Parliament.)
Presidential powers lead to a tussle between him and Parliament, and this power struggle leads to neglect of important economic and social issues. Sooner or later that tussle will begin with the new Parliament even if the elections are rigged to produce a pliant Parliament. Earlier, Gen Zia fell out with his handpicked prime minister. The same could happen again. On the other hand, Pakistan's people are unprepared to accept rigged elections and will resist it.

It is being speculated that the PPP will sweep the elections.
If free and fair elections are held, I am confident the PPP will win hands down. By now the people of Pakistan have a fair experience of comparing the PPP government with non-PPP governments which followed after our government was dismissed six years ago. They know the PPP gave them jobs, provided infrastructure facilities to the villages and had controlled lawlessness and a situation of near insurgency in Karachi. Also, foreign investments were flowing in during the PPP government. These are formidable achievements. I believe that keeping in view our track record and our commitment to the civil and political rights of the people, they will vote for the PPP.

Will you have your own candidate as president, or will you allow Musharraf to become the single candidate when it is time for Parliament to validate his five-year term?
Musharraf has still to approach the political parties to offer himself as a candidate for the president's office. We will decide if and when he approaches us. However, the ARD (Alliance for Restoration of Democracy) is pretty upset with him and has called for his removal. It is a pity that power has isolated Musharraf. The support of the international community could have given him strength to usher in domestic peace. He failed to build on that support and now admits that his graph (of popularity) has gone down.

Where do you draw the line when it comes to reaching a political understanding with Musharraf?
Given the international situation, I am reluctant to draw the line just yet. However, the PPP and I oppose his method of making a mockery of the federal-parliamentary form of government. We also need to see Musharraf make moves on a transparent election process and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens. His accountability branch clearly violates the precepts of justice and due process.

Suppose you make it to Parliament, what kind of relationship would you seek with the armed forces?
I enjoyed good relations with all Pakistan's army chiefs and even some of the intelligence chiefs. It were the hardliners in the intelligence agencies who destabilised my governments. The role of the armed forces is to defend Pakistan's frontiers, support measures to tackles terrorism and militancy and participate in peacekeeping missions to help build a safer world.

What would be the course of action left for the PPP if you are disqualified from politics or your party is banned from taking part in elections?
For my opponents, I am the problem as is the party that supports me. I, however, see matters differently. For me the issue is Pakistan's future. The choice is clear: dictatorship or democracy; and whether Pakistani people have fundamental human rights and whether these should be respected. What happens in Pakistan impinges upon the larger Muslim world. The Muslim world has to choose between dictatorship and democracy. It needs democratic role models that empower populations. Pakistan can be such a model if it chooses the democratic path. The world walked away from Afghanistan in 1989 when it could have stayed to build democracy. Their departure gave rise to the Taliban and Al Qaeda.It is important that the world community now supports democracy in Pakistan otherwise the consequences could be horrific.

I cannot be banned from politics nor disqualified from taking part in elections. Elections held without the PPP will be sham elections without credibility. They would embolden the militants and hardliners and marginalise the moderate forces. That could mean trouble for South Asia as well as the larger world community in addition to causing immense problems of poverty and conflict for the Pakistani people.

As a matter of fact, the Musharraf regime needs me and the PPP in the electoral arena to impart credibility to the election exercise. Pakistani people know too well the consequences of electoral fraud and manipulated power transfer and hope the military regime will refrain from repeating the mistakes of the past.