Pakistan's Peoples Party (PPP) has welcomed the government's assurance that their leader and former premier Benazir Bhutto, who is living in self exile in the Gulf, will not be arrested if she comes back to the country. “We certainly welcome interior minister Moinudeen Haider's statement that she could return without the fear of arrest. It is a significant and positive statement. It marked a sea change in the attitude of the government towards the party and the leadership,” PPP spokesman, Farahtullah Babar siad in Islamabad on Saturday. The mood in the party was upbeat on Saturday as Haider, a close confidant of President Pervez Musharraf, told reporters in Karachi on Friday night that Benazir would not be arrested if she returned to Pakistan from her self exile in Gulf. “She has been the Prime Minister twice and will not run away. Why will we arrest such a person. If she herself is ready to appear and co-operate with the court. She is not the kind of person who will run away,” he said.
His statements followed reports that Musharraf, who was facing opposition from pro-Taliban religious parties because of his support of US policies, might permit her return to counter the influence of religious leaders.
Benazir whose political graph appeared on the upswing since the local body polls has, despite differences with Musharraf, extended support to his policy to fight terrorism.
The deal to permit Benazir to return appeared to have been struck between Musharraf and some of the second rung PPP leaders days before he left for a tour of France, UK and US early this week.
Bureau Report