Bhutto Deserts Musharraf, Changes Allies

Qazi Hussain agreed with Bhutto to forge an alliance to restore the constitution and oust the military regime.

Bhutto surprised political circles by phoning Qazi Hussein Ahmad, the President of the powerful six-party religious alliance Muttehida Majlis-e-Amal and leader of Jamaat-i-Islami, who she used to dub as a "religious extremist."

"Bhutto and Qazi Hussain agreed to forge an alliance on a single point agenda to restore the constitution and oust the military regime," Amir-ul-Azim, Secretary Information of Jammat-e-Islami, told IslamOnline.net.

"She told him that the time has come when all the democratic forces should wage a joint struggle to oust the military regime instead of launching individual campaigns."

Earlier Tuesday Bhutto signaled a dramatic U turn on relations with Musharraf, asking him to step down both as president and army chief.

She even ruled out any possible power-sharing deal with him.

"I can't serve as prime minister with General Musharraf as president because he has pitched armed forces against the people of Pakistan, making it impossible for me to go along with him," Bhutto told reporters.

She indicated that her Pakistan People's Party may boycott the general elections, scheduled to be held before January 9.

The two-time former premier said she wanted an alliance with other opposition leaders, including Sharif and the MMA.

The 360-degree change poured cold waters on Washington's hopes of a Musharraf-Bhutto alliance against religious forces in the South Asian Muslim state.

Joint Front

Welcoming Bhutto's offer, the MMA expressed his consent to wage a joint struggle for the restoration of the constitution suspended by Musharraf.

"Qazi Hussein has welcomed the change in Bhutto's policy and told her that the MMA will support every effort to dislodge the military ruler," Amir-ul-Azim told IOL.

"The two leaders have agreed to convene a joint meeting of all the opposition parties - formally or informally- to form an alliance within next few day."

He added that the MMA leader was very happy Bhutto still recognizes sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudry as head of the judiciary.

Chaudry, who has been a throne in Musharraf's side since March, has urged the people of Pakistan to "rise up" to defend their constitution against Musharraf.

His call has been heartily embraced by lawyers who have recently emerged as the guardian of democracy and judicial independence.

Bhutto told Al-Jazeera news channel Tuesday she tried to phone former premier Sharif, sent by Musharraf to exile in Saudi Arabia a few hours after he returned in September with the power of a Supreme Court verdict.

Bhutto said she was not able to talk directly to Sharif, an old rival, but managed to talk to one of his party's senior leaders.

"I am ready to work with all the political leaders, including Nawaz Sharif."

Wising Up  

"I am ready to work with all the political leaders, including Nawaz Sharif," Bhutto said.

Pundits believe that the U turn in Bhutto's position was the result of ongoing struggle for an independent judiciary and pressure from within her own party.

"She has read the message loud and clear that under the current circumstances - with all opposition leaders and workers either on the streets or in jails - she could not afford to be a princesses," Kamal Hyder, an Islamabad-based senior political analyst, told IOL.

He believes Bhutto came under immense pressure from her PPP party.

"She has finally realized the fact that a deal with the General will be a kiss of death for her."

Hyder contends that when Bhutto was negotiating a power-sharing deal with Musharraf from her London exile she was not aware of the realities on the ground.

"The PPP workers are democratic by nature. They cannot go with a military dictator."

Hyder says that the poor reception Bhutto got on her arrival in the eastern city of Lahore, a PPP stronghold, was a clear message.

"This is a very important development as a democratic leader has returned to her natural place," agrees Ghazi Slahuddin, a Karachi-based analyst.

He told IOL that Ms Bhutto has come to the realization that Musharraf's days in power are numbered.

"She is a wise politician and cannot sit in a sinking boat."

Slahuddin welcomed Bhutto's efforts to reach out to other opposition leaders in the country.

"Ms Bhutto is trying to regain the status of a real opposition leader, which she has lost after entering into a dialogue with General Musharraf.

"It is essential for Ms Bhutto to take all the opposition parties, including religious forces, along with her. And it is equally necessary for other opposition parties to take Benazir along with them."

Slahuddin hopes Washington would get the clear message.

"It is now the US turn to realize that the people of Pakistan cannot go along with a military dictator any more."