"The power-sharing deal is totally stalled," Bhutto said on arrival at talks of her Pakistan People's Party in London, adding that Musharraf refused to take "tangible steps" toward restoring democracy. "It's absolutely wrong, the news the corruption charges have been dropped," she added. "It's a disinformation campaign run by... the head of the intelligence bureau."
As the time ran by for a pact, Bhutto hinted that her party MPs may resign from parliament following the mass resignation of 85 MPs from another opposition grouping this week. "I think that the resignation of the Pakistan People's Party MPs will be a severe blow to the legitimacy of the presidential election," she said.
Bhutto, who served as premier between 1988 and 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996, further warned that the current stalemate ahead of the weekend's elections could lead to violence on the streets. In Islamabad, a split emerged in the government over the amnesty offer between Musharraf and some members of a coalition led by his ruling Pakistan Muslim League party.
"We have conveyed our reservations against this proposed amnesty offer. We are not in favour of it," Religious Affairs Minister Ijaz-ul Haq told AFP. "There should be no amnesty to corrupt politicians, especially those who are accused of looting 1.5 billion dollars," added the minister. Fearing a possible delay in the elections, a source close to the presidency said the government was prepared for anything.
"If at the last minute the court tries to pull the rug from under the president, things will be very murky," the source said on condition of anonymity. "If pushed to the wall anything can happen in the next 48 hours. The President cannot afford to let the system destabilise."