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Speculation rife over Benazir’s return

ISLAMABAD: Three days before the expected homecoming of Pakistan People’s Party leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto after an eight-long years self-imposed exile, rumours are swirling that she may not return.

Despite repeated assertions from the PPP that BB, as Ms. Bhutto is known in Pakistan, is returning as planned on Thursday, the rumours refuse to die especially as the government appears serious about getting her to postpone her arrival.

What started off as a seemingly off-the-cuff remark by President Pervez Musharraf that she should put off her homecoming is now being repeated by many Ministers.

While Gen. Musharraf’s asked her to wait until his disqualification case was settled, Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azeem said it would be better if she waited for the court to decide on the legal challenges to an ordinance granting amnesty to her in corruption cases. Threats to her security are also being cited as a reason to stay away.

On Monday, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid told television channels that it was the “ground reality” that extremists and other interested parties were awaiting an opportunity to disrupt Pakistan’s transition to democracy, and for this reason, the time was not opportune for Ms. Bhutto to return.

He said Ms. Bhutto could have all the bullet-proof cars in the world, but giving the example of the assassinated Lebanese leader Rafiq Hariri, Mr. Rashid pointed out that no one could have had a more secure car than him, but “you know what happened, it was no use.”

Mr. Rashid said messages had been sent to Ms. Bhutto. But he also said that thus far, it did not seem that she had changed her mind.

Reports from Karachi said preparations were on for Ms. Bhutto’s welcome, with posters on the wallsand party flags. The PPP considers Sindh its stronghold, and it has a strong presence in Karachi, the provincial capital, though the MQM is the main political force in Pakistan’s biggest city.

Unlike on May 12, when the MQM prevented Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, then battling his ouster, from stepping into the city, this time the party is expected to lie low despite its historic rivalry with the PPP. As a Musharraf-ally, it follows the government’s lead. If the government says it will not do anything to prevent her entry into the city if she is determined to come, the MQM will fall in line.

Television channels aired unconfirmed reports that a government team had gone to Dubai, where Ms. Bhutto is at present, to persuade her not to come. Much was also read into the sudden arrival in Islamabad of PPP vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, and his departure for Dubai a few hours later.

But Mr. Fahim denied he was “shuttling” between the two cities for consultations with the government on postponing Ms. Bhutto’s arrival. He said he was going to Dubai to accompany his leader back to Pakistan. Mr. Fahim said PPP supporters had already set-off from various parts of the country to reach Karachi, where Ms. Bhutto is flying from Dubai. You may agree with her, or disagree with her, you may like her or dislike her, but everyone accepts that she is the only true politician in the country with a base among the people. This is what the PML (Q) is scared of, and that is why they are trying to prevent her from coming back,” said Babar Awan, a PPP Senate member.

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