Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has cast doubts on President Pervez Musharraf's ability to prevent extremists from getting hold of the country's nuclear arsenal.
"General Musharraf says that he is in firm control of the nuclear arsenal and the army is a very disciplined army but we have been facing chaos, growing chaos for some time," the former Pakistan prime minister said.
"What happens in Pakistan will affect the lives of the people of Pakistan. But I am afraid that since Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country (and that it) is facing a threat from terrorists, whatever happens in Pakistan is also going to impact the rest of the world," Bhutto told CNN on Monday.
Sounding a warning note, Bhutto said: "We need to maintain Pakistan's stability. If there is no stability, then I'm afraid the controls could weaken".
Caught in the middle of an emergency after her return to Pakistan under a power sharing deal with Musharraf, Bhutto asked the international community, especially the, US to send a firm message to the general to restore the Constitution, shed his army chief's uniform and hold parliamentary elections promised for January.
"I would like Washington to very clearly tell General Musharraf that it is important for him to restore the Constitution, to retire as chief of army staff, and to hold the election as scheduled, so that they are completed by January 16, 2008," Bhutto said.
"These elections must be held under an independent election commission so that they are fair, free and impartial" she said.
The Pakistan People's Party leader also said that the 'war against terror' fought by the Pakistani army in the country's restive tribal regions along Afghan border was taking a heavy toll on the security personnel.
"Our armed forces are heavily engaged in the tribal areas. We keep reading about casualties that they are suffering. And the bomb blast incidents are spreading throughout the country. This is straining the social fabric of the country. The armed forces are part of the social fabric so this will have an impact on them too", Bhutto said.
Asserting that Musharraf could not "defy the international community", Bhutto urged it to send a "firm message" to him.
"I believe the international community must make itself very clear that, if Pakistan is going to continue receiving its support and assistance, it must move on to the path of democracy by reviving the constitution, by removing the army from direct politics, by General Musharraf resigning as chief of army staff and elections being held on time -- elections that are free and fair and reflect the will of the people," she said.
The former prime minister also lent some credibility to the reports that "people in our armed forces are unhappy with the developing situation.
"Their job should be fighting terrorism; not to be involved in politics. And this extra-constitutional measure has mired them more deeply into the political crisis that we are facing," she said.
The PPP leader did not rule out the possibility of her getting arrested at the instance of Musharraf in the wake of other political opposition figures in Pakistan having been detained after the emergency.
"I hope General Musharraf won't take that step but I can't rule it out. I plan to go to Islamabad and I am having a meeting of other opposition groups", Bhutto said.
Bhutto also said that her party was planning a peaceful protest on November 9 urging Musharraf to announce elections at the earliest.
The former premier also said that she wanted Musharraf "to defuse the situation."
"I want him to come on television and say: "Please, people of Pakistan, rest assured, the Constitution will be restored on such and such dates. I am stepping aside as army
chief on such and such dates and I am calling for the election on such and such dates", she said.
Bhutto also asked president to take steps such as "releasing the political prisoners to pacify the situation."
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