Islamabad: Although Benazir Bhutto has clearly denied possibility of any deal with a weakened President Pervez Musharraf, former exiled premier Nawaz Sharif slammed the chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) for her party's reportedly ongoing deal with the government.
Sharif, while talking to a private television news channel yesterday criticised Benazir for breaching the "charter of democracy" signed between them to jointly struggle for restoration of democracy in the country.
"Any deal between PPP Musharraf would be unpopular and hazardous. But we will continue struggle against the military rule," he added.
In a quick and immediate rebuke to Sharif's interview Bhutto told the same news channel she does not want to pick up a row with Nawaz Sharif.
Reacting to the allegation levelled by Sharif regarding the violation of the Charter of Democracy (CoD), she said she does not want to criticise Sharif, adding the charter was not a legal document; it was aimed at extrication of the military from the government.
She reiterated her resolve to return home by September hoping the elections will be held this year.
In connection with the possibility of next elections being fair and transparent, Benazir said, "Nothing can be said regarding the fairness of the elections."
Freedom
Meanwhile referring to the PPP's deal with President Musharraf, Sharif said: "It is not a matter of elections, but the restoration of democracy without the army's involvement.
"Freedom cannot be begged, but one should struggle for it."
He expressed his reservations about the recent growing contacts between the PPP and the government and said the PPP had violated the CoD, as the accord "prohibits any deal with a dictator".
He announced his party members would resign from the assemblies in case of the re-election of President General Musharraf from the existing assemblies.
"It is natural to express suspicions about Benazir and her party, following her absence from the All Parties Conference (APC) in London," Sharif added
Earlier the information secretary of the PML (N) Ahsan Iqbal alleged the PPP top leadership was impeding the opposition's struggle by repeatedly announcing its engagement in talks with President General Pervez Musharraf.
"The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy meeting will be possible only when all its component parties will guarantee that they are neither engaged in talks with General Musharraf, nor will they hold talks with him," he said.
Reuters
