Islamabad: Benazir Bhutto, former premier and chairwoman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has said time is running out for a deal with President Pervez Musharraf due to the approaching presidential and general elections.
Talking to the local private television news channel, Benazir said her party would like to see a phased implementation that is calibrated to give both sides confidence.
She said the PPP was aiming at facilitating Pakistan's transition to democracy. But "to deal with the issues confronting the people of Pakistan, including the rise in poverty, unemployment and lack of security due to acts of terrorism, it's important for a balance in power between the presidency and parliament," she added.
"Democracy in the nineties was destabilised. This was due to the presidential power to dismiss the parliament and the prime minister. It would be difficult for any prime minister to lead Pakistan properly while the threat of arbitrary removal remains," Benazir said.
Asked if it was possible to get an amendment passed in the present assembly to remove the hurdle of her becoming prime minister for the third time, Benazir said this was one of the issues on the agenda.
"The PPP believes the people of Pakistan must be free to choose their elected leaders according to parliamentary traditions where there are no bans on twice elected prime ministers," she said.
On the presidential election, Benazir said the PPP, as well as the legal fraternity, dispute the legality of a presidential election from the current assemblies and of a chief of army staff.
"Should General Musharraf seek re-election from this assembly, the matter will end up in the judicial forums. General Musharraf has said he would seek elections from the current assembly, therefore re-election from the next assembly is not an issue currently before us," she said.
Asked what her course of action would be if Musharraf postponed both the presidential and general elections and imposed an emergency, Benazir said the PPP would challenge any decision to impose an emergency in court.
She said the lawyers' movement for the rule of law would be re-ignited and this would complicate the crisis rather than resolve it.
The PPP chairperson said the growing strength of militants in Pakistan could only be tackled by addressing the basic needs of the people for food, clothing, shelter, education, health and empowerment.
She said the ability of parliament to domestically tackle militancy would be constrained unless balance is restored between the presidency and parliament.
