Bhutto and Musharraf in UAE for pact talks

Exiled former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has travelled to Dubai ahead of expected talks today on a political pact that could keep Pakistan president Gen. Pervez Musharraf in office, officials said.

Musharraf and Bhutto have been discussing a pact that would shore up the US-allied president’s troubled re-election bid while allowing the opposition leader to return to Pakistan and contest parliamentary elections.

But Bhutto has failed to win a public commitment from Musharraf that he will quit as army chief or give up some of his sweeping presidential powers.

Musharraf’s supporters have balked at Bhutto’s demand that she be allowed to run for a third term as prime minister.

The respected Dawn newspaper said two close Musharraf aides were in Dubai “to make what is being termed here a last-ditch effort to strike a power-sharing deal”. Geo television reported that talks had resumed.

Bhutto’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar today confirmed she had travelled from London to Dubai, but denied talks had already started.

Still, a senior government official told The Associated Press that talks were expected today in the United Arab Emirates.