Benazir blames Musharrafs partners for rise in extremism

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has blamed President Pervez Musharrafs political partners for the spread of extremism in the country.

New York, Aug 13 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has blamed President Pervez Musharraf's political partners for the spread of extremism in the country.

In an interview to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Benazir said these "partners" are trying their best to thwart the restoration of democracy in Pakistan, as they fear losing power in a democratic country.

"On the political front, Musharraf has had a set of partners since 2002, the last elections, and it's under those partners that extremism has spread in the country. Now, as these negotiations have been going on with the PPP, that group is worried that it's going to lose control...So, they are trying to jettison the return to democracy," Benazir said.

Calling Musharraf's policies towards Islamic militants "ambiguous", she said the military regime needed the threat of Al Qaeda and the militants to justify military rule, besides "getting money".

"If there was no threat, there was no money," the Daily Times quoted her, as saying.

Benazir added that if Islamabad had the consistent and persistent will to root out extremism from the country, then the government writ could be established. "We'd like to work closely with NATO and the United States in eliminating militancy," she said.

She went on to say that radicals were not enough to tilt an election, but "they are enough to unleash terrorism against the population, to rig an election, to kidnap police, to kill the army, and therefore to make it possible to take over the state."

On her return to Pakistan, Benazir said that she planned to return soon, but is worried that Musharraf could get her arrested.

ANI