Islamabad, Nov 11 (IANS) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Sunday ridiculed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto when a foreign journalist said that her popularity was on the rise.
“This is a country of 160 million. Seventy percent of them live in rural areas… Go into the Punjab and see whether she has gained popularity because of some actions,” Musharraf told a press conference here.
“Who gave you the impression that she is going to be the prime minister? We are going to have a fair and transparent election and it is the political parties who will decide who will be the prime minister.”
It was Musharraf’s harshest criticism of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader since she returned to Pakistan Oct 18 ending eight years of exile.
Bhutto was in power sharing talks with Musharraf before she flew in from Dubai but called off the discussions after the president declared emergency Nov 3. She then said that she did not trust the military strongman anymore.
“There has to be political reconciliation. Let’s face the menace of terrorism with a political stand,” Musharraf said. “Let the political parties decide the course of action after the (January) elections.”