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Bhutto in no hurry to return to Pakistan

Self-exiled Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto has no immediate plans to return home as the intentions of the military government are ''still not clear.''

''It's too early (to return to Pakistan). We will have to see what are the intentions of the present regime. Things are still murky,'' she said.

Bhutto said the army rulers would never be able to deliver on the tall promises that they have made and urged the present regime to restore civilian rule.

The national and provincial assemblies should be restored immediately, or elections be held within three months, she demanded. Bhutto also urged the military government to release her jailed husband Asif Zardari saying that after his release ''we will decide which one of us should remain in politics.''

''We would take stock of things and make a decision whether one of us should quit politics. As far as I am concerned I would prefer both of us to remain in politics since Asif has earned his role in the politics of the country.''

Asif Zardari, a member of the suspended Senate, is accused of involvement in the killing of Benazir's brother Murtaza. He and Benazir are also facing several corruption charges.

Asked whether she had struck a deal with the government on the issue, Bhutto said: ''I make deals with nobody.''

She called for elections within three months, and said that only politicians, who were representatives of the people, could improve the lot of the common man. She said there was foolproof evidence that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his colleagues were corrupt, and should be tried in a court of law.

Asked if Sharif should be hanged if found guilty as charged, she evaded a direct reply saying: ''I don't know the facts of the case. Let the trial proceed and the facts and evidence in the case will determine the final outcome.''

UNI

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