Bhutto’s Party: Little Time Left for Pakistan Power-Sharing Deal

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Time is running out for President Musharraf to finalize a pact with a former premier, Benazir Bhutto, that would keep the American-allied leader in office, Ms. Bhutto’s party warned yesterday.

General Musharraf and Ms. Bhutto have been trying for months to secure an agreement that would allow her to return from exile and help General Musharraf get another term. But with the presidential election due in less than five weeks, the two sides have yet to resolve crucial differences on how they might share power.

“The ball is in the court of the government, and the time has almost completely run out,” a spokesman for Ms. Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party Farhatullah Babar, said. “The window is not completely shut, but no agreement has been reached.”

The warning comes in the wake of an attempt by another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to return to Pakistan in a bid to sideline General Musharraf, whose authority has eroded since March when he tried unsuccessfully to oust the Supreme Court’s top judge. A pact with Ms. Bhutto could help General Musharraf overcome expected legal challenges to another run.

Ms. Bhutto wants authorities to drop corruption cases pending against her and insists General Musharraf must step down as army chief. However, General Musharraf’s political allies are resisting her demands and want General Musharraf to retain much of his sweeping powers.

Minister for Railways Sheik Rashid Ahmed said the biggest obstacle was Ms. Bhutto’s demand for the repeal of a bar on anyone serving more than twice as prime minister. Ms. Bhutto led two short-lived governments in the 1990s.

In other news, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a mess hall inside a highsecurity base used by a Pakistani counterterrorism force, killing at least 15 soldiers, officials said.

The militants’ ability to penetrate the elite force’s headquarters about 60 miles south of the capital was a severe blow to the army.


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