Islamabad, Pakistan: November 11, 2007 – (IR Summary)-   Benazir was barricaded in her residence guarded by the police not to allow her to do any political activity but this caught strong reaction at home and abroad.

President Bush noted this reaction seriously and this issue was briefly discussed with US officials, who advised Musharraf to set her free for political activities. 

Accordingly, the restrictions were lifted from Benazir Bhutto on Saturday. As per New York Times, she was seen as guest of honor at a high-flying diplomatic reception in the Parliament Building, greeting ambassadors and exchanging nods before television cameras. 

Though President Musharraf has publicly promised to lift emergency by 15 February, 2008 but Bhutto wants the emergency to be lifted by 15 November; it could be just a political stunt to gain more popularity or to regain her lost property, which she had left in Pakistan during her eight years period of exile.

There was an agreement with Bhutto and Musharraf to run Pakistan collectively and she would be dissolved of all corruption charges, which agreed.
 
So Bhutto came back to Pakistan, some vested interests never wanted Bhutto to  return to Pakistan, and during her peocession, suicide bombs were used killing 149 people and left over 500 injured.

Musharraf was elected as President but he election was challenged in Supreme Court, and when became sure that the verdict would come against him, he imposed emergency, and appointed another Supreme Court Justice, who quashed the petition against his election.

There was other reason of serous threats to his life and also to the life of Bhutto, so that also compelled him to imposed Emergency.

One thing is obvious that Musharraf has soft corner for Bhutto because firstly he does not want Sharif to interfere in his regime and secondly he prefers Bhutto and that’s the reason that she is now permitted her to move about freely.

Musharraf is still keen to rule Pakistan with cooperation of Bhutto and she is equally keen to do it but wants to keep an upper edge over Musharraf by pressing him to lift emergency by 15 November, which is not going to come as she wishes but her demand is likely to add popularity to her leadership.

There is another reason in her in mind that to avoid corruption charges, she was compelled her to opt exile for 8 years to avoid corruption charges, and it is Musharraf alone who can get her rid of these charges.

As per New York Times, “Such paradoxes have only added to the skepticism that swirls around her here, less than a month after her return from eight years in exile to avoid corruption charges. And it has added to the speculation that, tense as the situation remains, she and her old nemesis, Gen. Perverz Musharraf, may yet have enough ambition in common to run Pakistan together.”

Musharraf may lift emergency in a short time before February, 2008.