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Arab Times:

ISLAMABAD: A political deal between President General Pervez Musharraf and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has been finalized and everything will be crystal clear within the next four weeks, Federal Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, told the Arab Times Tuesday. “Everything has been settled and the behaviour of the PPP stalwarts, including Benazir Bhutto, is reflective of the pre-elections understanding,” Sheikh Rashid said. She can return to Pakistan any time she wants and land in any city she likes, he added. In response to a question, the federal minister said that both General Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto have developed understanding on the issue of the uniform. “She has personally admitted that there is a secret understanding on the uniform issue.” The federal minister maintained that Benazir Bhutto along with her party members, in one way or the other, will support Musharraf, under the deal. “Bhutto will follow a policy that helps General Musharraf whether it is on the issue of his re-election, uniform or in the post-election scenario.”

Sheikh Rashid said the next four weeks are highly important in the country’s history as the government will have to take significant decisions. “The deal with Benazir Bhutto is one of these issues.” “ I had said a year and a half year earlier that talks on reconciliation between President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto were going on. The semifinals and quarterfinals were played a long time ago but the final round has just been played. Now no more deals or reconciliations are needed. All the matters have been settled,” he claimed. “Benazir Bhutto was playing hide and seek with her party workers to avert their resentment so that the top leadership of the party would not leave her alone at this critical juncture,” he underlined. Sheikh Rashid said that all the routes have been restored following Benazir Bhutto’s talks with General Musharraf and she can land in any city of the country at any time, he maintained.

In reply to a question about the existence of some documentary evidence on Sharif family’s exile, the minister said that the government has a two-page document linked to their departure to Saudi Arabia.
The minister also claimed that the two-page document, which all the Sharif family’s male members signed before they departed for Saudi Arabia, cannot be made public due to certain reasons.
“I have personally witnessed this document,” he added. The minister insisted that the Sharif family members will have to stay abroad for ten years from the day they agreed to leave the country.
“Yes they are bound to remain abroad under the written agreement,” he insisted. Sheikh Rashid further said that General Pervez Musharraf’s personal statement about presenting the written document before the court of law is ample evidence that they proceeded to Saudi Arabia after putting their signatures on this agreement.

“I will contest the elections even if a candidate from PPP or PML-N is fielded against me. PPP will be a real rival for PML-Q in the general elections,” he added on a different note. In reply to another question, the veteran politician said PML-Q’s electoral alliance with PPP stands ruled out. Both the parties will contest elections from their respective platforms, he added. The premiership will go to the party which proves its majority, he held. Sheikh Rashid reiterated the next four weeks are very crucial. Policies will come to light on who is making deal with whom. Decisions will be taken on seat to seat adjustments. All the politicians are looking forward to the Supreme Court currently, therefore, the next four weeks are very crucial, he remarked. “Benazir Bhutto will adopt her policy during the Presidential elections which will take place between Sept 15 to Oct 15,” he added. “This policy will be beneficial for President Musharraf., he added. We should wait for president’s decision on his uniform,” he said adding President Musharraf will decide about removing the uniform when time is right.

By Wajid Ali Wajid
Special to the Arab Times