BBC : Bhutto upbeat over power-sharing

Bhutto upbeat over power-sharing

BBC News | October 4, 2007

Ex-Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has said she is "optimistic" of a power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf.

But Ms Bhutto, who has demanded an amnesty on corruption charges against her, said nothing was yet finalised.

Gen Musharraf wants Ms Bhutto to stop any boycott of a parliamentary vote on Saturday which is expected to re-elect him president.

Ms Bhutto has pledged to return to Pakistan from self-exile on 18 October to fight general elections.

She left Pakistan before Gen Musharraf took power in 1999.

Credibility

Speaking after talks with her opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in London, Ms Bhutto said: "We are optimistic today, but I cannot say everything is finalised.

"Gen Musharraf has said he wants national reconciliation. We want that too. The nation should move from the past to a better future."

She said there had been "hectic negotiations and discussions and assurances" over the text of an ordinance, or government order.

Ms Bhutto said: "If the national reconciliation ordinance is accordingly worded, we expect there will be an understanding on a transition towards democracy."

She added that if a deal were reached she would not carry through a threat to withdraw her party from parliament.

"We will not vote for President Musharraf as we cannot vote for a uniformed president and this has been understood by both sides.

She said her party's lawmakers would not resign but that: "We will either contest the elections or we will abstain from the voting."

Such a mass resignation threatened to undermine the credibility of Saturday's vote.

Popular support

In Islamabad, Pakistan cabinet minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said the government was close to an agreement on power-sharing.

"Things are going in the right direction, as I have been saying for the past several days," Mr Ahmed said.

"Wait for five or six hours, and everything will be clear by that time."

In addition to the amnesty, Ms Bhutto wants the president to give up his power to sack the prime minister.

She also wants the repeal of a law banning anyone from being prime minister for more that two terms.

She and political rival Nawaz Sharif have both been prime minister twice before.

Observers say Gen Musharraf wants a power-sharing agreement with the PPP, the country's largest party, to give him more popular support.

He will also hope for PPP support after the general election in which the ruling party is expected to fare badly, they say.