Former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto on Saturday said countries ruled by dictatorship faced extremism and sought a dialogue between 'moderation and extremism'.
KARACHI: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who survived an assassination bid on her return from exile, on Saturday said countries ruled by dictatorship faced extremism and sought a dialogue between 'moderation and extremism'.
Dismissing claims that she was trying to forge a 'deal' with President Pervez Musharraf, she said her party was holding talks with the General to facilitate the transition to civilian democracy.
"We are seeking power for the people. We want free, fair and transparent elections. Where there is dictatorship, there is extremism," she said after her visit to her father's tomb at Larkana in Pakistan's Sindh province.
The PPP, Bhutto said, wanted a dialogue 'between moderation and extremism, and democracy and dictatorship'.
Earlier, Bhutto visited her ancestral village and offered prayers at her father's tomb.
54-year-old Bhutto was given a rousing welcome by hundreds of cheering supporters when she flew from Karachi to Sukkur, a town near her hometown of Larkana.
Asked about the legal challenge mounted in the Supreme Court to President Pervez Musharraf's re-election in uniform, Bhutto expected Musharraf to respect the verdict of the apex court.
"He has abided by all the decisions of the Supreme Court and we expect Musharraf will abide by the court's ruling in this matter."
The apex court is expected to give its verdict on petitions challenging the military ruler's candidature by the middle of next week.
Bhutto repeated her demand to seek assistance from international experts in probing the last week's suicide attack on her homecoming procession.
"We have to draw lessons from history to see how we can live together in peace. Suicide attacks are forbidden by Islam and the religion says all people should live together in peace," she said.
The Election Commission of Pakistan, she said, should review its voters' lists and put them on its website so that the rolls could be properly scrutinised by political parties.
Bhutto admitted that the suicide attack on her rally last week and threats to her life had forced her to put off her plans to reach out to the people through rallies and meetings.
"I have modified plans because of the bomb blasts in Karachi. I don't want to expose people to unnecessary risks. But I will continue to reach out to the people and plan to resume holding rallies later," she said.
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