ISLAMABAD, 6 September 2007 — Former Pakistan Premier Benazir Bhutto told AFP yesterday she wanted to meet President Gen. Pervez Musharraf face-to-face after making progress in talks on a power-sharing deal. The two-time prime minister added that she would return home from self-exile in London and Dubai in “weeks, not months,” ahead of upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
“There has been progress in some areas and we are working on those areas,” she told AFP in a telephone interview after the stalled negotiations resumed this week, adding that “good” progress had been made. “I prefer face-to-face negotiations between himself and myself (but) I also appreciate that he has got a country to run and that might be very difficult,” she said when asked if she would meet the military ruler.
Talks held in London last week between aides to Benazir and Musharraf ended in deadlock, with the ex-premier saying that she would announce a date for her return from self-imposed exile due to corruption charges on Sept. 14. Asked when she now planned to fly back to Pakistan, which she left eight years ago after serving as premier between 1988-1990 and 1993-1996, Benazir said her return would take place in “weeks, not months.”
