Bhutto complains Pakistan talks have stalled

Pakistan’s President Musharraf was accused of stalling power-sharing talks by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto today.

President Musharraf says he will give up his role as head of the army if he wins Saturday’s presidential vote.

But Mrs Bhutto said he has not agreed a schedule for other key demands.

“There are several things we want, including fair elections,” she said in London from where she is preparing to fly out of exile and back to Pakistan later this month.

“He is not prepared to give a level playing field ... I am afraid that we are heading for a situation which could lead to street agitation.”

Mrs Bhutto served twice as prime minister between 1988 and 1996 but saw her governments fall amid allegations of corruption and misrule.

The government said yesterday it had revived talks with her and indicated it was ready to pardon her, clearing her way to participate in politics eight years after she left Pakistan to avoid arrest in corruption cases.

The government has given few details about the proposed amnesty other than that it would apply to other politicians as well and would cover cases up to 1999 in which people had not been convicted.

Mrs Bhutto also is demanding a constitutional amendment that would allow her to seek the prime minister’s job again if her party wins parliamentary elections due by January.

A spokesman for Mrs Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party, added: “As of now the talks have stalled. There is no progress.”

Mrs Bhutto said her party was meeting to decide if it will join other opposition parties in resigning from Parliament to rob the election of legitimacy.

Both Mrs Bhutto and President Musharraf are pro-US and have called for moderates to unite against extremism.

She said today that she wants to build a moderate Pakistan, shift to civilian rule and tackle social and economic problems.

“In fact, on the ground, nothing has changed from nine months ago,” she said.

“Extremism has spread. Our tribal areas have become safe havens for militants. Our schools for girls are being shut down there. People are being beheaded. Our people yearn for stability and security ... for safety from suicide bombers and roadside bombers. The present regime cannot salvage the situation.”