"If I Am Assassinated"

“On Oct 16, before returning home, I wrote a letter to Gen Musharraf in which I informed him that if anything happens to me as a result of these attacks, then I will neither nominate the Afghan Taliban, nor Al Qaeda, not even Pakistani Taliban or the fourth group. I will nominate those people who, I believe, mislead the people. I have spelt out names of such people in the letter,” she said. “I have named three people, and more, in that letter to Gen Musharraf. I have named certain people with a view to the attack that took place yesterday so that if I was assassinated, who should be investigated.”

Email to be used only ‘if I am killed'
Associated Press/Dawn, December 29, 2007

It was a story CNN's Wolf Blitzer hoped he would never have to report — an email sent through an intermediary to him by Benazir Bhutto complaining about her security. Conditions of use: only if she were killed.

Ms Bhutto wrote to Wolf Blitzer that if anything happened to her, “I would hold (President Pervez) Musharraf responsible.”

Mr Blitzer received the email on Oct 26 from Mark Siegel, a friend and long-time Washington spokesman for Ms Bhutto. That was eight days after she narrowly escaped an attempt on her life on Oct 18.

Benazir Bhutto wrote to Blitzer: “I have been made to feel insecure by his (Musharraf's) minions,” that specific improvements had not been made to her security arrangements, and that the president was responsible.

Blitzer agreed to the conditions before receiving the e-mail. He said on Friday that he called Siegel shortly after seeing it to see if there was any way he could use it on CNN, but was told firmly it could only be used if she were killed. Siegel could not say why she had insisted on those conditions.

Blitzer reported on the e-mail late on Thursday. He noted that Ms Bhutto had written a piece for CNN.com that mentioned her security concerns and that American politicians had tried to intervene on her behalf to make her feel safer. “I didn't really think that it was a story we were missing out on,” he said. “I don't think the viewers were done any disservice by my trying to hold on to this.”

Wolf Blitzer was the only journalist sent such a message, Siegel said. He also sent the e-mail to Representative Steve Israel, a New York Democrat.

Siegel said he did not believe Ms Bhutto's opinions had changed since she wrote the e-mail. Her message specifically mentioned she had requested four police vehicles surrounding her vehicle when travelling; Siegel said it seemed evident from pictures taken at the assassination scene that the request was not fulfilled.

Ms Bhutto did not necessarily believe that President Musharraf wanted her dead, but felt many people around him did, he said.

Her husband contacted Siegel on Thursday to remind him about the e-mail message and to make sure it got out, he said. 

Bhutto names suspects in letter to Musharraf
24 Oct 2007, 1706 hrs IST , PTI

ISLAMABAD: October 24 (PTI) Former Pakistan Premier Benazir Bhutto has named four well-known persons, including Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and former ISI chief Hamid Gul, as those who pose a threat to her life in a letter to President Pervez Musharraf, the media here reported today.

In the letter written on October 16, two days before she returned to Pakistan from eight years in self-exile, Bhutto said she feared there was a threat to her life from Elahi, Gul, Hassan Waseem Afzal, the former Deputy Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and Intelligence Bureau chief Brig (Retd) Ijaz Shah, Geo TV reported.

In a press conference held hours after the suicide attack on her motorcade in Karachi on Thursday night that left nearly 140 people dead, Bhutto had, however, said she had named three persons in the letter.

She had indicated that there were also other officials who posed a threat to her life as, she claimed, they were abusing their powers and positions.

Bhutto, who also referred to three persons posing a threat to her life in a complaint she submitted to police in Karachi, has so far not publicly named these persons.  

In her complaint, Bhutto only said that police should take action against "those whose names were given to Musharraf".

The government has so far been silent on her allegations though Musharraf's spokesman defended the IB chief's integrity and reputation and said there was no move to sack Shah.

Some media reports had earlier suggested that Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim was also named in Bhutto's letter.

Afzal, who played a key role in probing graft charges against Bhutto and was removed from his post in the NAB due to pressure from her PPP party, is currently serving as Secretary to Punjab Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Maqbool.

After Bombing, Bhutto Assails Officials' Ties
New York Times, October 20, 2007

Looking pale and shaken the day after she survived a suicide bomb attack, the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto said Friday that she had warned the Pakistani government that suicide bomb squads were going to go after her on her return to the country and that it had failed to act on the information. 

Ms Bhutto pointed the finger at government officials who she said were sympathetic to the militants and were abusing their powers to advance their cause. She did not identify them on Friday, but said she had in a letter to the government this Tuesday. It was not clear if she was implicating the officials directly or accusing them of dragging their feet on her warning. “I am not accusing the government, but I am accusing certain individuals who abuse their positions, who abuse their powers,” she said.

Aides close to Ms. Bhutto said that one of those named in the letter was Ijaz Shah, the director general of the Intelligence Bureau, another of the country's intelligence agencies and a close associate of General Musharraf.

Mr. Shah hung up when asked by telephone for a reaction to the allegations.

‘Zia remnants' blamed for Karachi carnage
Dawn, October 20, 2007

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on Friday (October 19, 2007) condemned the suicide attack on her rally (in Karachi) and blamed it on what she termed ‘Zia remnants'. She said that before returning home, she had written to President Pervez Musharraf that more than three officials were planning suicide attacks on her.

“The attack was a message sent by the enemies of democracy to all the political parties of the country. It was intended to intimidate and blackmail all the political forces and elements working for democracy and human rights. It was a warning not only to me and the PPP but to all political parties; indeed to the entire civil society.”

“On Oct 16, before returning home, I wrote a letter to Gen Musharraf in which I informed him that if anything happens to me as a result of these attacks, then I will neither nominate the Afghan Taliban, nor Al Qaeda, not even Pakistani Taliban or the fourth group. I will nominate those people who, I believe, mislead the people. I have spelt out names of such people in the letter,” she said. “I have named three people, and more, in that letter to Gen Musharraf. I have named certain people with a view to the attack that took place yesterday so that if I was assassinated, who should be investigated.” She alleged that more attacks were being planned on her life. She said her apprehension was that a strike would be made ……..“The modus operandi will be that selected people will be planted in the police department and posted near my house. Perhaps, commandos will be sent in the garb of a rival political party and blamed for the attack.”

Ms Bhutto said she had shared this piece of information with Gen Musharraf and was confident the government would take pre-emptive measures.

PPP files Petition against Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights

Islamabad, 28 July 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has filed a petition with the National Accountability Bureau against Wasi Zafar, the Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights for alleged involvement in corruption and corruption practices causing huge financial loss to the national exchequer.

The petition filed through Shabir Abbasi advocate citing the grounds of the petition reads, "The respondent was deeply involved in misusing power as Federal Minister for Law, Justice & Human Rights for mistreating a senior female officer of BPS 21, Saira Karim after the said officer refused to approve millions of rupees for 560 applications of Minister's constituency in the name of victims of human rights violations. It was astonishing to know that the respondent had reported 560 cases of human rights abuses in his own constituency and wanted to pay millions of rupees from the funds being maintained in his Ministry for human rights abuses. This was a sad day in the history of Pakistan that a woman officer, who refused to allow the respondent to misuse the funds, was made a horrible example by punishing the officer, instead of showing respect to her for being upright and honest. It was a question to which the respondent should be asked to give an answer as to why such a huge number of human right abuses had been reported only in his own constituency."

The petition further reads, "After the payment of funds was resisted, the respondent summoned the women officer and snubbed and charged her of collecting evidence against the respondent. The said women officer met Secretary Establishment Division and got herself transferred to Establishment Division. But fearing that the non-payment issue could explode and create trouble for the whole Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights, the woman officer was brought back to the Ministry and was given the charge of the same section dealing with payments to the victims of the human rights abuses. All these actions could not satisfy the furious respondent and he directed the Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights, Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan (appointed on contract basis after retirement) to proceed against the woman officer. The Secretary Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan immediately obliged the respondent and ordered to probe against the woman officer for "collecting documentary evidence against the respondent". Meanwhile all the applications from the respondent's constituency (Jarranwala) were in the custody of Secretary Mr. Mansoor Ahmad who is pushing the woman officer to reconsider her earlier decision."

The petition calls upon the Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau is called upon to initiate investigation in connection with matters set out hereinabove and further proceed to file a Reference against the respondent for violating the provisions of Section 9 of the NAB Ordinance punishable under Section 10 of the NAB Ordinance in a competent court of law and proceed against him for violating Section 9 of the NAB Ordinance 1999.

PPP welcomes vindication of its position on corruption related references
Says the present cases will also be proved as false and politically motivated

Islamabad July 27, 2006: Spokesman of the PPP former Senator Farhatullah Babar has issued the following statement today.

"The revelations before the Public Accounts Committee that the references filed against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by the former President Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan were illegal is the most categorical vindication of the former Prime Minister's innocence.

"Even though fifteen years late the Party welcomes this vindication. The Party believes that the current cases against her pursued by the regime both in the country and abroad will also be exposed as hollow, politically motivated and no more than a planned character assassination..

The Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament was informed by the Auditor-General of Pakistan (AGP) the other day that corruption references filed by former President Ghulam Ishaq Khan against Mohtarma Bhutto and the 28 million rupees spent on it by way of fees to the legal advisors were all illegal.

Eighteen corruption reference s had been filed against Mohtarma Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari at special courts in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Rawalpindi during 1990-92.

The Parliamentary Committee also directed the Cabinet Secretary to appear before it and explain how all these payments had been made for pursuing cases that had no basis in law.

"No civil suit can be initiated on behalf of the federal government by any division/department without the approval of Justice Division and in case of Benazir, the approval of the Justice Division was not obtained at all", said the report of the AGP to the Parliamentary Committee.

The report also says that the issue was discussed in one of the departmental accounts committee meetings in May 1997 but the Cabinet Division authorities failed to defend their position for such an irregular and exorbitant expenditure.

The spokesman said that though fifteen years late, the revelation explodes squarely the myth of corruption used by the then President to dismiss the elected government of Mohtarma Bhutto.

Sooner or later it will also be proved that the present set of cases were also being pursued by the military junta with the sole aim of subverting democracy in the country and to perpetuate military dictatorship, he said.

Raza Rabbani asks CEC to restrain Musharraf from campaigning for King's Party

Islamabad, July 27: Mian Raza Rabbani, Leader of the Opposition, Senate of Pakistan has issued the following press statement;

"General Pervez Musharraf has once gains played partisan politics by presiding over a political meeting of the presidents, general secretaries and other office bearers of the King's Party in Sindh on Wednesday and lending them support in the election campaign.

"The Party has all along maintained that under the rules, law and Constitution General Musharraf cannot campaign or politically work for any party in the country. The playing continuously of the partisan political role by General Pervez Musharraf is condemned in the strongest terms.

"The Party recalls that recently the Chief Election Commissioner had publicly reiterated this position and stated that General Muhsarraf could not take part in the election campaign of PML (Q).

"The Party had at that time also stated that the nation will watch if the Chief Election Commissioner would indeed take action under the law in restraining General Musharraf from taking part in the election campaign of PML (Q).

"The Party calls upon the CEC to take action against General Pervez Musharraf in accordance with the Constitution and the law which he had publicly reiterated to take in case of its violation by any one.

"The unwillingness or inability of the CEC to take appropriate action under the law will only mean that his public reiteration a few days ago that General Musharra could not take part in the election campaign was meant only for public consumption and no more".

Mohtarma Bhutto welcomes Ahmed Faraz’s decision of returning Hilal-i-Imtiaz to the military dictatorship

Islamabad, 26 July 2006: “Your decision is a clear message to the dictatorship to look inwardly and to reflect on where it stands in the eyes of the citizens whose fundamental rights have been ‘trampled under the boots’.” Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan People Party, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto wrote this in a letter addressed to noted literary figure Ahmad Faraz congratulating him on returning the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Civil), which was conferred on him by the military dictator, General Pervez Musharraf.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in her letter wrote, “The manner in which you have taken a strong moral position in returning the award will make many feel proud. It is most reassuring that you refused to be tempted by the trappings of illegal power that is based not on morality or constitutionalism but on the brute use of force and exploitation of the
armed forces of Pakistan. It takes courage to take such a decision that can be taken only by those who are fired by conviction in Constitutionalism and belief in rule of law. In demonstrating this courage you have earned the respect of all those who believe in the rule of law as opposed to the rule of the jungle. All those who love democracy whether in the country or abroad would not only welcome this decision of yours but also draw strength from it.”

She further wrote, “I noticed that you said in your letter ‘my lone voice may not achieve anything but I also cannot suppress the voice that comes from within and is rooted in conviction’. I wish to tell you that history is replete with instances when, not guns, but the voice of a single individual has dealt a deadly moral blow. I share your hope that
the voice raised by you would strengthen those millions of voices that reject dictatorship.”

“I also hope your example will encourage others to follow in your footsteps”, she concluded.

Mohtarma Bhutto condoles death of Abdul Sattar Gabol

Islamabad July 24, 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir has condoled the death of Abdul Sattar Gabol.

Former PPP Minister and noted politician and social worker Abdul Sattar Gabol breathed his last on Sunday in Karachi.

In a condolence message the former Prime Minister said that she was grieved to learn about the death of Abdul Sattar Gabol who she said was a prominent political figure, a worker of Pakistan movement and also a social worker of Lyari.

She prayed to Allah to rest his soul in eternal peace. Mohtarma Bhutto also expressed sympathy with the members of the bereaved family and prayed for them to bear the loss with fortitude.

GIK cases against Benazir were flawed: AGP report

By Rauf Klasra

ISLAMABAD: The Auditor-General of Pakistan (AGP) has informed the Public Accounts Committee that former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) had approved the controversial payment of Rs 28 million from taxpayers’ money to an army of legal advisers he had recruited to file 18 corruption references against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari in 1990-92.

An AGP report, out after a period of 15 years, has even challenged the legality of filing of 18 references against Benazir and her spouse by president GIK at special courts of Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Rawalpindi and said they were filed without meeting the legal requirements.

Cabinet Secretary Ejaz Rahim has now been directed by a subcommittee of the PAC — presided over by MNA Riaz Fatiana — to appear and explain as to how all these payments had been made without a formal clearance and approval of the Justice Division.

The AGP report has come as a new dramatic twist to cases against Benazir after a long period of 15 years. The AGP report while challenging the legality of references against Benazir stated, “No civil suit can be initiated on behalf of the federal government by any division/department without the approval of Justice Division and in case of Benazir, the approval of the Justice Division was not obtained at all.”

The AGP report might give a new colour to the corruption cases filed against Benzir and her spouse which are still being pursued by the government of the day. The then attorney-general had approved these payments on his own without any legal authority, confirmed the AGP report.

The AGP said the then attorney-general had even settled the terms and conditions and fees of each legal adviser on his own without consulting the Justice Division and then he also approved payment to these expensive lawyers. This is the first ever report alleging serious irregularities by a former president of Pakistan forwarded to the PAC for public debate.

The report says that accountability cell under the Cabinet Division paid a huge amount of Rs 28 million as fee to the legal advisers/senior counsel for preparing reference made by president GIK without the prior consultation with the Justice Division.

The report says that the issue was discussed in one of the departmental accounts committee meetings in May 1997 but the Cabinet Division authorities failed to defend their position for such an irregular and exorbitant expenditure.

While, in its defence, the Cabinet Division replied that after dissolution of the Benazir government on August 6, 1990 the GIK government filed references against her in various special courts under president post-proclamation order No 176 of 1977 against holders of public offices who had allegedly committed acts of misconduct.

A case was sent to the secretary law, justice and human rights with the request that the AG may be allowed to settle the terms and conditions of engagements of legal experts so that they are paid their fees. But the AGP said it all was illegal and waste of funds.

PPP condemns exploitation of Sindh by Musharaf's puppets

Islamabad July 24, 2006: Pakistan Peoples Party has strongly condemned by continued and systematic exploitation of Sindh by the Musharraf regime through its puppets in the province and demanded an end to the exploitation of the poor peasants, haris and workers of Sindh.

"Whether it is a matter of provision of irrigation water or giving of jobs or preservation of natural heritage or respecting the centuries old right of fisher folk to livelihood the poor people of Sindh have been the worst victims of exploitation at the hands of military dictatorship" said a spokesman of the PPP in a statement today.

To the economic and social exploitation of the people has also been added the political exploitation by hounding and chasing the Sindhi opposition leaders and political activists, he said.

Recalling latest incidents of exploitation the spokesman said that on Sunday the irrigation department filed a case with the police against some 150 political activists and poor farmers blaming them for stealing irrigation water. The police force was let loose against the victims forcing them to go underground to escape arrest and torture, he said.

Two days ago the Kotdiji police also booked 47 farmers of Shahnawaz Wah and Imdad Minor, including the son of the provincial Party President S. Qaim Ali Shah, allegedly for water theft. FIR was lodged against Qaim Ali Shah 's son Syed Muzaffar Shah, former Thari Mirwah taluka nazim Ali Gul Bozdar of Awam Dost Panel, and several other local farmers.

The spokesman said that continued denial of irrigation water the people had forced hundreds of farmers and political activists to take out a protest procession in the coastal town of Jati in Thatta. Shortage of irrigation water had damaged paddy, sugarcane and other crops cultivated on thousands of acres. A complete strike was also observed in the town on the call of Abadgars Action Committee and all shopping centres, small
vendors and the bazars remained closed but the regime retaliated by filing police cases against the farmers neglected by the regime, he said.

The spokesman said that the continued neglect of the social and economic problems of the province coupled with the victimisation of the peoples representatives was fraught with grave consequences for the federation. The Party urges human rights bodies to raise their voice against this latest wave of repression in Sindh, he said.

Transparent elections under national set up and reformed election laws best exit rout for military

Mohtarma Bhutto addresses public meeting in Birmingham

Denounces military regime for mega corruption and mega scandals

Islamabad, 23 July 2006: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has said that the best exit route for the Musharraf's military regime was to adopt the ARD demand that a national government be formed to hold fair and free elections with election reforms as suggested by the Opposition.

She was addressing a large gathering of Pakistani Community in Birmingham, UK, today.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that it has become vital to save the federation from disintegration, terrorism and poverty and this could be done through holding a free, fair and transparent elections under an impartial and independent Election Commission. She asked the Chief Election Commission to take notice of pre-rigging efforts of the
government party including the campaign by General Musharraf in favour of the King's Party. She said that the nation needed and deserved free and transparent elections.

The former Prime Minister said that on one hand the nation in suffering because of hunger, poverty, price-hike and lawlessness in the country and on the other the military regime failed to take action against its ministers, advisors and members of ruling party, involved in mega corruption like privatisation at throw away prices of Steel Mills, Stock
market crashes, Chinese locomotive purchase, construction of Golf Courses, awarding contracts to relatives of the members of the regime, sugar scandal and the scandal of setting up oil prices. She said that the people of Pakistan are being forced to commit suicide because of hunger and poverty.

Former Prime Minister said that the government of Pakistan Peoples Party had a policy on power generation through which the independent power project (IPPs) where brought in Pakistan but after the unconstitutional removal of the PPP government these IPPs were scandalized. Now during the past seven years of military regime the power crises had worsened by the day and the entire country has been drowned in darkness. She said that the current load shedding throughout the country is sign of a malaise where state writ in nowhere to be seen.

She said that the Charter of Democracy signed by the majority of the Opposition is a document, which strengthens the federation, guarantees justice for all and peace and development for the people of Pakistan. She stressed the need for improving relations with the neighbouring countries especially India and Afghanistan.

She said that the Opposition believes that the elections cannot be free and fair under an army Chief occupying the office of the President. She said that the assemblies elected for five years terms couldn't elect a President twice giving him ten years as President. She said that the government should read the writing on the wall as international analysts are of the view that holding free and fair elections may result in the victory for the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Mohtarma Bhutto welcomes initiative of retired personnel
Demands fair and free elections and depoliticised army

Islamabad July 23, 2006: former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has welcomed the initiative of retired Pakistani diplomats, civil servants, intelligence chiefs and military officers in asking General Musharraf to separate the two offices of the President of Pakistan and the Chief of Army Staff and to build national reconciliation.

In a statement today welcoming the initiative the former Prime Minister said that the letter written by the cross section of retired officials to General Musharraf actually endorsed what the democratic forces in the country, indeed the whole nation, had been demanding for a long time as critical for the integrity of the country.

Fair and free elections under a set up of caretaker set up of national consensus and sending the military back o the barracks to perform its constitutional duties is critical for saving the country and the federation, she said.

A group of 18 prominent members of the society, including senior politicians, intellectuals, former governors, former diplomats, intelligence officers and ex-army generals Saturday asked General Musharraf to separate the two offices of President of Pakistan and Chief of Army Staff, which he is holding simultaneously, build national
reconciliation and form a neutral caretaker set up for free, fair and transparent elections.

Addressing General Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the letter is also sent to former Prime Ministers Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif and other important leaders of the country. The letter was written after a year-long dialogue among the senior civil society members who discussed host of political issues on a platform provided by PILDAT, an NGO working for strengthening the Parliament. The group had
also invited one member each form some of the political parties.

"The elections scheduled for 2007 will not be credible without neutral and impartial caretaker governments, both at the Centre and in the provinces", it said. Genuine empowerment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commission of Pakistan, the letter said, is essential for transparent elections which are not only held in fact and practice, but are also perceived by the people to be free, fair and transparent.

"It is necessary for the district administrations to be placed under the effective control of the Chief Election Commissioner during the 2007 elections", the letter said.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that while the PPP and the ARD has called for the formation of national government and electoral reforms to ensure fair and free elections it nonetheless agrees with the retired personnel that fair elections cannot be held under the present dispensation. She also urged the people and the international community to keep building pressure on Musharraf regime for holding free and fair elections.

PPP workers case hearing in Islamabad court today

Islamabad July 23, 2006: The case against PPP activists accused of attacking the Parliament House eight years ago will be heard in the court of civil judge and Judicial magistrate Islamabad on Monday July 24.

About fifty activists of the Party including Ms Naheed Khan MNA, Nayyer Bokhari MNA, ex Senator Farhatullah Babar, Qazi Sultan Mahmood, Syed Ibrar Rizvi, Abdul Majeed Rizvi, Babar Minhas, Syed Ibn-i-Rivi, Shahnawaz, Shabbir Babar, Jehangir Akhtar and Sohail Rumi besides others have been charged with storming the Parliament building on April 22, 1998 and threatening the Speaker National Assembly.

The case was registered when PPP activists staged a protest rally outside the Parliament House against the anti-terrorism legislation, which gave sweeping powers to the executive. The demonstrators were forcibly dispersed when the police resorted to baton charge resulting in injury to many Party workers and activists.

The protestors were demanding review of the law. Later the Supreme Court struck down various provisions of the proposed legislation including the one relating to the setting up of military courts to try terror cases.

A large number of protestors were arrested on the spot and sent to jail.

Initially the accused were booked under the anti-terror law against which they were protesting. Later however the government withdrew the terrorism charges and booked the protestors under eight different sections of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Meanwhile the PPP has asked all those named in the FIR to appear before the court today (Monday)

Mohtarma Bhutto aims to bring peace

Islamabad, 21 July 2006: "Terrorism and extremism are a by-product of military regimes and can be fought best by a democratically elected government". This was stated by the Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party and former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in an interview to the Indian newspaper, Hindustan Times.

Responding to a question about the Charter of Democracy, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said, "The Charter goes beyond elections to the pluralistic and accountable society that we dream of creating a moderate, enlightened and flourishing society is implemented. We affirmed that Mr. Sharif and I shall return to Pakistan before the general elections and warned that any attempt to stop our homecoming will be a denial of the constitutional right of impartial and free elections". On the topic, she further said, "we resolved that the military dictatorship has brought the Federation of Pakistan to the precipice when all but one road leads to strife, chaos and the threat of disintegration. The Federation today is at war with its peoples and itself. The regime today uses brute and naked state force in a war against its own people who demand their constitutional, economic, political and cultural rights. Parliament's sovereignty is vetoed by the National Security Council. Parliament is denied the right to freely formulate policy or to protect the rights of the federating units or intercede in the grave political crisis facing the Federation. Parliament has been reduced to a rubber stamp for the Chief of Army Staff who unconstitutionally occupies the Office of the President."

In reply to a question about the apprehension of her arrest on her return to the country, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said, "When Musharraf has pardoned the nuclear scientist A.Q.Khan who sold nuclear technology on the international market according to his confession, Musharraf has no moral right to persecute me on unproven allegations that are a decade old. I plan going back irrespective of what Musharraf does. When I was banned from contesting the last elections I did not go back for several reasons. Those elections were too close to 9/11 and Musharraf kept claiming he would not stop my party from forming the government if we won a majority. Well, we did win a majority but Musharraf postponed the parliament and factionalised my Party. My party knows I made the sacrifice for it. This time my Party wants me back with one voice and I shall be there for them and for our people who have stood by me just as I have stood by them. As I have suffered, I can understand the suffering of my people. They live on less than two dollars a day and young people find it difficult to get jobs. That's wrong. Our hospitals and schools are crying out for funding. My Party and I will invest in our people and in peace."

Regarding news about contacts with the regimes, she said, "I personally doubt that Musharraf or those that are around him would want an understanding with the PPP led by me. What he says is similar to the PPP platform but on the ground the situation is different. Pakistan is a critical country and the stakes are high for those around Musharraf who allowed Osama Bin Laden to escape from Tora Bora, allowed the Taliban to regroup and re-assert themselves as well as forced AQ Khan to fall on his sword to save others. It seems a contradiction in terms to think such elements would allow the PPP back to power if they can help it. Don't forget that PPP was overthrown twice to set the stage for the war against terrorism. After its first overthrow , Pakistan was on the brink of being declared a terrorist state in 1993. After the PPP's second overthrow the attacks of 9/11 took place. If the PPP had been in power, Al Qaeda would never have established camps in Afghanistan, the attacks on the Trade Towers would not have taken place, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would not have occurred and Muslims everywhere would not be under siege because extremists exploit the message of Islam. The policies of the PPP were aimed at bringing peace, harmony and brotherhood. Those who want a clash of civilizations cannot accept the PPP. They fear my popularity with the people whom my Father served and gave his life for and whom I served losing my Father, brothers, was imprisoned with my Mother, saw my husband held for eleven and a half years without a conviction and endured exile bringing up little children and looking after an ailing Mother."