Keep off politics, BB tells spy agencies

* Former PM asks government to act against those involved in rigging elections
* Vows to end army interference in country’s politics

By SM Wajih/agencies

DERA ALLAH YAR/ JAFFARABAD: Former premier Benazir Bhutto urged intelligence agencies on Thursday to concentrate their efforts on capturing terrorists instead of indulging in politics.

“It is not your job to indulge in politics,” she said. She said the intelligence agencies of the country were being used for political purposes causing the situation in the country to further deteriorate. She accused military intelligence of pressuring Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidates to drop out of next month’s parliamentary elections and urged officials to crack down on such harassment.

She told reporters during a campaign stop in Dera Allah Yar that her party has evidence of interference, reported AP. “We demand that the Election Commission take notice of such things to ensure free and fair elections,” she said, while also accusing local nazims of gearing up to cheat.

Against rigging: The PPP chairwoman asked President Pervez Musharraf’s government to act against those involved in rigging the vote, reminding him that he has promised that the January 8 balloting will be free and fair.

She urged supporters to reject candidates from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid party, saying it had done nothing for the welfare of the masses. She also vowed to put an end to army operations in Balochistan, and redress the grievances of the provinces, if voted to power.

She said the PPP has a lot of reservations about the general elections and the party has demanded the government disallow intelligence officers from sitting inside the offices of the returning officers on the day of polling.

End to interference: Separately, addressing a public gathering in Jacobabad, Benazir vowed to end the interference of intelligence agencies and the army in the country’s politics. She also promised to end the miseries of masses by ushering in employment.

She said the PPP did not believe in any form of discrimination and lauded her late father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, for sacrificing his life for the sake of his principles.

She said law and order was key to the development of a country’s economy, adding that the judges could not provide justice if they were not free to do so.

Benazir accused the PML-Q of planning to rig the forthcoming elections and criticised them for not being able to find willing candidates, citing the party’s failure to fill the slots of Chakwal, Attock and Bhakkar.

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Regards

Aarwaa

Pakistan is ruled by three As - Army, America and Allah.