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| 'Bhutto, Sharif will not be allowed to take part in polls' | | | Islamabad | Feb 19
Dismissing reports of back channel talks with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, President Pervez Musharraf has said leaders living outside the country will not be allowed to return but their parties can take part in Parliamentary polls due in Pakistan this year.
In an interview to a private TV channel, Musharraf denied any back-channel negotiations with Bhutto and her Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
Asked about permitting Bhutto and another former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to return from their exile, he said the parties whose leaders are outside, will take part in elections.
However, the leaders who are outside the country, will remain outside, Musharraf said.
In a speech yesterday Musharraf criticised the former governments in the country for raising hollow slogans to steer people out of poverty and provide them job opportunities. He alleged that they only played with the sentiments of the masses in the name of democracy.
The PPP recently threatened to boycott the general elections in the wake of "rigging and violence" in last week's Sindh bye-polls.
The government said recently it was prepared to consider a conditional amnesty for the family of Sharif to return from their exile.
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