Mush-Bhutto deal 'collapses', Pak stares at Emergency

Islamabad: The much-touted power-sharing deal between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and former premier Benazir Bhutto has collapsed over her demand that prime ministers must be allowed a third term, a minister considered close to the General has said.

"It is finished. The President said 'no'. If you insist, there are very thin chances of salvaging it — just 1 or 2 per cent," the Dawn newspaper quoted Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad as saying.

"Maybe some last-minute attempt is made... to salvage the deal. But personally I am not at all hopeful, the reason being Bhutto's insistence that prime ministers must be allowed a third term," he said.

The crucial component of the deal being negotiated between Gen Musharraf and Bhutto was the removal of bar on elected leaders holding the post of prime minister for a third term.

The rule was brought in by Gen Musharraf during the 2002 polls to prevent Bhutto and another ex-premier Nawaz Sharif from becoming premiers again as they held the post twice in the past. Ahmad said things 'changed abruptly' at the closing stage of the deal which was being discussed for about a year.

"Time is running out fast. Everything has to be decided by September 14 because the schedule for the President's election will come any day after that date," he said. Musharraf plans to get re-elected between September 15 and October 15 by the present assemblies.

The minister also said if the deal failed to materialise — after a last minute attempt — the government would consider the option of dissolution of Parliament and imposition of Emergency.

He claimed that a successful deal would have been a big blow to the popularity of Bhutto and her Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Since new political arrangements with Bhutto could not be finalised, there were chances of dissolution of the National Assembly.

"This is a very critical issue and if there is no dissolution then I am afraid emergency could be imposed or even martial law cannot be ruled out," he asserted.

PPP spokesman Faratullah Babar declined to react to Rashid's comments. "I have seen his remarks, but I have no comment to offer," he said.

Ahmad said, besides the sticking points and constant efforts by Bhutto to extract more from Gen Musharraf, the deal was also opposed by the ruling PML-Q leaders.