Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has reiterated his opposition to the return of two exiled former prime ministers before parliamentary elections due later this year, a government minister said.
Meanwhile, in remarks broadcast yesterday, ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto highlighted her party's opposition to Pakistan having military leadership.
Musharraf, facing his worst political crisis since seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999, has said that his government would hold parliamentary elections later this year - but that he wants exiled former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Bhutto to stay away from Pakistan in the run-up to the polls.
The country's independent Geo news channel reported on Saturday that Musharraf reiterated his stand at a meeting of Pakistani newspaper editors.
Pakistan's Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani confirmed the meeting and Musharraf's remarks, but did not elaborate.
Musharraf's comments came days after he decided against imposing a state of emergency, which would have drastically curtailed freedoms of the public and judiciary.
The leader is struggling with political and security problems. His popularity has ebbed since his bungled attempt to remove Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry in March drew thousands of protesters into the streets and raised calls for democracy. In addition, surging militant violence has killed more than 360 people.
In remarks Geo aired yesterday, Bhutto said at a gathering in New York that she was unsure whether the discussions with the government will succeed.
"I cannot say now that the negotiations will be successful or will not be successful," Bhutto said. "But I can say that we are definitely making an effort that a peaceful way should be found out under which democracy is restored in our country."
"This has been the Peoples Party's core principle: that we want democracy and we cannot accept uniformed presidency," Bhutto said, reiterating opposition to a military head of state.
Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999 to avoid arrest in corruption cases registered against her by then-Prime Minister Sharif.
Source: China Daily/agencies
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