ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: President Gen Pervez Musharraf advised People’s Party chief Benazir Bhutto on Wednesday to put off her return to Pakistan until after the Supreme Court’s ruling on his eligibility for the presidential election.

“It is not a good time,” he said about the Oct 18 date set by Ms Bhutto for her return – a day after the Supreme Court is scheduled to resume hearing a raft of petitions challenging his candidature for the presidency.

President Musharraf made the suggestion during an interview broadcast by the ARY television network.

Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for the PPP, said that he could only say Ms Bhutto would arrive in the country according to schedule. President Musharraf denied in the interview that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) had been promulgated to please Ms Bhutto. “The NRO is a normal and ordinary ordinance aimed at ending confrontation and politics of vengeance.”

He said the NRO was for “everyone and for every party”.

Gen Musharraf said he was unhappy over the PPP’s decision to boycott the presidential election. He, however, appreciated the party’s decision against resigning from the assemblies, terming it a “positive move”

In reply to questions about the recent appointments in the army high command, he said in the army such decisions were made on merit. “We have a policy of right people at the right place.”

He reiterated his resolve to retire as army chief by Nov 15. However, in reply to a question about his plans in the event of the Supreme Court declaring his election unconstitutional, he said he would decide when the time came.

In response to another question, the president said that “some elements” were trying to mislead the people by accusing him of supporting the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on every issue. “I am a patriotic Pakistani and only support what is right.”

The president said he had good relations with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Conceding that Mr Aziz was not a politician, Gen Musharraf said he had done a “good job for the country”.

Gen Musharraf said the country was on the road to civilian rule after the presidential election. He said he was re-elected as president purely on merit. He further said the government enjoyed majority in all assemblies except the NWFP, but “the number of votes I got there as well as in Balochistan are beyond my expectations”.

Gen Musharraf said the parliament was fully functional and it was wrong to say that he was giving orders to the government. He said the prime minister, and not the president, was running the government.

He dismissed speculations about differences within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, saying there were no groups within the party. “There is always difference of opinion among party members, but they (PML leaders) are united like a rock and the country witnessed it in the presidential elections.”

In reply to another question, Gen Musharraf said the International Atomic Energy Agency would not be given access to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. “Pakistan is a sovereign country and nobody shall be allowed to interfere in our internal matters.”

He further said no foreign troops would be allowed to carry out any military action on Pakistan’s soil.