Ruling party flays Benazir 'deal' with Musharraf

Islamabad: Benazir Bhutto will have to join the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) if she is so eager to make any "deal" with President General Pervez Musharraf, according to the president of the ruling party.

"We feel no need to take Benazir Bhutto's frequent statements on any alleged deal with the government seriously as she has maintained continuity in changing her stance on various issues, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told Gulf News yesterday.

Memories

He said the memory of Pakistanis is not so short that they have forgotten the grave law and order situation during Benazir's stints with power.

"She has no right to give any lecture on the law and order situation or the government," Shujaat Hussain added.

"Her two governments had no writ even on urban areas and she used to solve law and order problems with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement with the help of general headquarters. She used to exchange prisoners of her party with other organisations," he claimed.

Charter

The PML-Q president said Benazir has no credibility because she has signed a so-called charter of democracy with Nawaz Sharif under which she was not supposed to talk to the government without consulting him. But she consulted neither the PML-N nor any other party in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy.

"Now Benazir Bhutto is after a deal and doesn't miss any chance to get this matter highlighted in the media but she will have to join the PML-Q if she is serious in teaming up with General Pervez Musharraf," he added.