Islamabad, Oct 02: Accusing ISI of pre-poll rigging, former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto has said that despite president Pervez Musharraf's assurances to hold fair elections, "political victimisation" is continuing.
"General Musharraf is either insincere or inefficient as a leader. He professes he will hold fair elections, but the elections in Pakistan have been blatantly rigged. He said he could end political victimization, but political victimisation is continuing," she said in an interview to 'dawn'.
Bhutto said that the ISI planned to create a wedge between Musharraf and the elected or selected Parliament in order to hold sway over the body politic of Pakistan.
Bhutto, who has been in self-exile for the last five years, said that she was "living with a suitcase in London ready to go back, but they have closed all doors for me from participating in the upcoming elections.
"I would risk everything to go back to Pakistan if there was a credible chance of my participation."


When asked if she believes the elections are rigged and sham why her party (PPP) does not boycott the elections, Bhutto said, "We want to expose the claims of the regime that the elections will be free, fair and transparent."


"The old retired generals like Hamid Gul, etc, are still the thinkers and policy-makers, and continue to guide the agency. They are running the whole show," she said.

Bureau Report