Pak. press not excited over Benazir's Delhi visit

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 25 The ongoing visit of the former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Ms. Benazir Bhutto, to India has hardly evoked any interest in Pakistan.

Though the PPP made an announcement about the visit on November 16, the Pakistani press has hardly taken notice of her travel to New Delhi. This lack of excitement could be attributed partly to the preoccupation of the Pakistani Government, society and the press with the extraordinary developments in Afghanistan. It is also a reflection how far removed the PPP is from the realities in Pakistan even if it has not exactly become irrelevant.

The former Prime Minister has been on a self-imposed exile for nearly three years now. A lower court sentenced her in a corruption case during the the former Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif's regime. Though there have been announcements from time to time about her imminent return to Pakistan, there are no definite indications as to when Ms. Bhutto actually intends to come back. Periodic reports about a `deal' between PPP leadership and the military government have added to the confusion.

Indications by some PPP functionaries in June this year that she might visit India ahead of the summit meeting between the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, created a sensation in the Pakistani and Indian circles. Following widespread criticism in the press about her travel plans to India, the PPP was forced to clarify that Ms. Bhutto had no intention of visiting New Delhi ahead of Gen. Musharraf.

Statements critical of Gen. Musharraf made by Ms. Bhutto in New Delhi and her likely meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, are certainly not likely to go down well with the military establishment here. Her reported statement seeking Indian help for restoration of democracy in Pakistan is bound to complicate matters for her party vis-a-vis the Musharraf regime. The Pakistan President has already given ample indications that the ``law would take its own course'' if Ms. Bhutto decides to return. In other words, Gen. Musharraf is hinting that Ms. Bhutto will be detained as she is an accused in some cases where she is facing trail.

Ms. Bhutto has expressed her concern in recent weeks about the possibility of Gen. Musharraf grabbing the opportunity presented by the Afghan war to legitimise his position as President and not restore ``genuine democracy'' as required by the Pakistan Supreme Court verdict of March 2000.

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