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| Tuesday, 30 November 2004 |
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Bhutto to end exile, win next election: Zardari KARACHI, Monday (AFP) Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto will end her exile and lead her party to victory in the next election, her husband Asif Ali Zardari said following his release from jail. "She is surely coming and will lead the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in the next general election," Zardari told AFP in an interview Sunday at his seaside Bilawal House residence in this southern port city. "I can't give you the date, but she will be here for the next elections," Zardari said, insisting 2005 would be election year in Pakistan. "Bhutto will create history by becoming the premier for the third time.". "Bhutto has a role to play in Pakistan politics and the vote bank belongs to her," he said. The government has said the present parliament would complete its five-year tenure until 2007. Zardari rejected speculation his release was linked to any deal with the government. "I rejected all offers and preferred prison," he said. "Democracy is our shield and we cannot compromise with the authoritarian rulers," he said. He said his "villainous image" was painted by successive authoritarian governments to malign Bhutto. Zardari, who was arrested on November 4, 1996 said during custody intelligence agencies wanted "to break me through physical and mental torture in order to pressure Bhutto, but they failed." "Sleep deprivation for hours during interrogation resulted in my spine problem," Zardari said. |
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