By IANS
Islamabad : The security provided to former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, whose return home Thursday was marred by a suicide bombing that left at least 139 people dead, will match that of President Pervez Musharraf but this could impact her political fortunes, a media report said Sunday.
“Bhutto has reluctantly agreed to stick to the government’s prescribed security-related rules of the game, which could end (her) Pakistan Peoples Party’s popular (brand of) politics,” The News said.
Bhutto accepted the “elaborate and matchless security protocol” available to Musharraf during an extended telephonic discussion with a key presidential aide, it quoted a senior official as saying.
“She was informed that there has been ‘zero tolerance’ when it comes to ensuring security of the president. She was explained that such cover can only be useful if all the essential rules are followed and implemented in letter and spirit,” the newspaper said.
The official said that the “traditional party, having a particular popular culture, would be over” if the rules governing the president’s security were adhered to, too protect Bhutto from terrorists.
“This means that the access of ordinary people, even important persons, to Bhutto would not be possible,” he added.
“For a popular politician like Bhutto, who is back home after eight years and wants to galvanize her party with a view to winning the forthcoming general elections, it would be too difficult, if not totally impossible, to detach and isolate herself from the people as Musharraf has done over the past few years,” The News noted.
According to the official nit quotes, “Not a single person can come on roads used by the president and it has always been ensured that there is no breach of this… In addition, Musharraf’s programme is mostly not announced for security reasons.”
Never, Bhutto was told, had Musharraf stood on the roof of a truck to lead a procession as Bhutto did Thursday contrary to the security officials’ advice. Musharraf’s night-time public appearances were absolutely non-existent, the former prime minister was informed.
The official said that Bhutto would have to strictly go by all the requirements of security protocol laid down by the government to avoid a repeat of the Karachi bombing.
“Bhutto was told that no government in the world had the capacity, capability and the resources to totally eliminate suicide bombings,” the newspaper said.
“There are new ground realities and it is not Pakistan of 1986 (when Bhutto first returned from exile). Its culture has fundamentally changed; new harsh facts stare us in the face and we have to transform ourselves to cope with this frightening scenario,” Bhutto was told.
Musharraf has thrice been subjected to terrorist bombings, as have Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao.
In view of this dangerous environment, the official said, the rules governing security have been radically changed to ensure protection of the leading persons. No relaxation is shown and no chances are taken, he said adding that bulletproof vehicles have also been provided to different government leaders.
Without knowing how many people would turn out at the Karachi airport to receive Bhutto, the PPP had planned to continue the procession led by her for 18 hours. This long duration provided enough time to the mastermind of the suicide bombing to meticulously plan and execute the heinous act, the official said.
The official said that Thursday’s incident would prompt Bhutto to take considerable time to decide her political activities in the days, weeks and months to come.
“Certainly, the Karachi carnage has forced her to radically alter her political plans,” he added.
Another official said that the culture of popular politics, marked by close contacts with the people that PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto introduced, may have to undergo changes given the new ground realities.
“Traditionally, the PPP’s public meetings and processions had been too big and large where security was not an issue in the past. But now, as it has emerged, it is the number one concern of not only the government but Ms Bhutto and other top PPP vtleaders as well,” The News said.