KARACHI, Oct 8: The chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party, Benazir Bhutto, on Tuesday warned the regime of dangerous consequences if power was not transferred smoothly and parliament’s sovereignty was not respected.

“The PPP and ARD parties will emerge as the biggest group in parliament, and it will be our right to be invited to form the government first. After elections, the ball will be in Gen Musharraf’s court. If he will respect (the) will of the people, he can play golf,” said the PPP chairperson while addressing a telephonic news conference at the Karachi Press Club.

He said the generals should respect the sovereignty of parliament, and keep their likes and dislikes to themselves.

Bhutto warned that if the regime acted otherwise and maintained a belligerent stance and showed no respect for the will of the people and the parliament, the country would be plunged into a much deeper crisis, similar to the situation between 1985 and 1988, when the then elected government had developed differences with Gen Ziaul Haq.

At the outset, Bhutto alleged that the regime had planned to rig the elections inside polling stations.

“The staff would show you two ballot boxes — one will already be filled with bogus votes. At counting time, they will mix them up with the polled votes. Later, when they feed the results to the computer, they will manipulate (it) through different commands,” said the PPP chairperson.

In order to avoid such an alleged manipulation, she advised her party’s polling agents to also sign the ballot boxes before voting.

Benazir also said that her party had reached electoral adjustments with the ANP in the NWFP and that the PPP would like to continue cooperation in the post-election scenario also. She said that the ANP had historically been an anti-establishment party.

On her party’s possible relationship with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Bhutto said that her party, which had been its coalition partner, was desirous of good relations, but it is a complicated manner.

“We should bury the hatchet and look (to) the future. We should try future relationship by bringing peace and stability. We will have to pledge that those who were found breaking the law must be punished,” she said.

To a question about the future of the political wing of the ISI, Bhutto recalled her allegations that her government was dismissed in 1990 by ISI manipulations, and emphasized that “serious thought must be given to reform the intelligence agencies. Their domestic role is controversial.”

She revealed that there is a political wing of the ISI, but who controls it is a mystery. Bhutto said that “there is an underground party which includes retired general’s of Gen Zia’s regime.”

She emphasized that instead of trying to form one party or the other for destabilizing politicians, they should concentrate on other jobs. Their main task should be confined to infiltrating terrorists’ networks and foiling their plans. Benazir said that military intervention in future could be averted only through national consensus.

Replying to a question on provincial autonomy, she said in the new millennium, keeping in view the fate of the former Yugoslavia, this question has assumed critical significance, and the issue should be resolved in conformity with the 1973 constitution and in accordance with the aspirations of all the provinces. Provincial autonomy was equally linked with the integrity of the country, she said.

Asked whether her party members would take the oath under the Legal Framework Order, Bhutto said that “we will try to avoid that as far as possible. If a situation evolves, then we will consult the ARD partners.”

She said that her party hoped that Gen Musharraf would play a positive role, but his three year track record has been very disappointing.

In order to ensure transparency in future elections, she said that the Bangladesh example would be followed and elections would be held under an interim government headed by the judiciary.

Bhutto also told a questioner that she had discussed a future cooperative relationship between the PPP and PML (N) with Nawaz Sharif either in the government or in the opposition. She claimed that both parties had learnt from their past mistakes.

“As far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, our message is to forget the past and look to the future,” she said, while extending her support to Nawaz Sharif and his party.

She said that her party had never believed in the politics of black-mailing, and would not compromise on the principles that lead to the road of democracy. “I have trust in (the) people and am optimistic that they will support me and my party to come to power.”

About her return, Benazir Bhutto said that she was ready to return home tomorrow if she was guaranteed that she would not be arrested, or there would be no restrictions on her movement or freedom of speech.

She said her party would join hands with all those political parties which support the supremacy of Parliament.