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Benazir might attend APC if MMA quits Balochistan govt

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party chairwoman Benazir Bhutto hinted on Wednesday that she would attend an opposition all parties conference (APC) in London provided the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal quits the Balochistan coalition.

“There are some people who believe that my personal participation (in APC) will make a big difference. For the time being, I do not intend to attend the conference,” Benazir told Geo television.

“However, if the Jamaat-e-islami and JUI, meaning the MMA, resign from the Balochistan government, I might review my decision to attend the conference,” she said.

“My party being a member of the ARD actually called the APC. Makhdoom Amin Faheem heads the ARD. He has called the conference while (former prime minister) Nawaz Sharif is hosting it,” she said.

“At this time, I feel my personal presence is not necessary,” the PPP chairwoman insisted.

She said the MMA was a coalition partner of the ruling PML in Balochistan. “Many excesses are being committed against the Baloch. The MMA is the partner of the government that killed Nawab Akbar Bbugti, imprisoned Akhtar Mengal, forced Muri into exile, and kidnapped Zain Bugti, the grandson of Bugti.”

Asked when she was returning to Pakistan, she said she would be in the country by December this year. “I am returning before December this year. I have stayed out of compulsion because I have limited freedom outside. My concern is if I land tomorrow, I might not be having the opportunity to call a meeting of the PPP parliamentary board. I would like my return to be helpful for democratic process.”

About the prime minister’s offer to the opposition about election preparations, she said the opposition could not respond to the PM unless concrete confidence-building measures were taken on the ground.

“For example, the issue of 20 to 30 million missing voters needs to be addressed first. The Election Commission must paste the names of all enrolled voters on its website so we do not have hanky panky with the voter lists.”

Benazir said the PPP welcomes the US support for free and fair elections.

In 2000, she said, the government offered to drop all cases against her and free her husband if she accepted the dictatorship. “But I did not,” she added.

The PPP chairwoman said she had not closed the doors of dialogue with the government. “I did this not because I am interested in a deal but because I want Pakistan have a smooth transition to democracy,” she said. nni

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