Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Sunday refused to divulge details about her plans to return from self-imposed exile, as she fears being arrested or assassinated. “I think I’m threatened because my politics disturb the military dictatorship in Pakistan and the Taliban and Qaeda,” she said in remarks quoted by the Times. Bhutto said it was too early to start thinking about working alongside Musharraf because he believes that that he can rig the election so that there is no need to entertain the thought of a future parliament headed by the PPP. She, however, did not rule out becoming prime minister with Musharraf as president. “If the people vote for my party and parliament elects me as prime minister, it would be an honour for me to take up that role with Musharraf as president, so I think that a good working relationship between him and me would be a necessity for Pakistan,” she said.
Bhutto also confirmed that she had been involved in “back-channel” contacts with President Pervez Musharraf’s regime but denied any “understanding” between them about her future. Musharraf is negotiating to win Bhutto’s support, a minister and officials said earlier this month. Bhutto added, “I plan to return to Pakistan by the end of the year, whether Musharraf likes it or not.”