Benazir to end exile, lead party to polls victory

"She is surely coming and will lead the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in the next general election," Zardari told AFP in an interview Sunday at his seaside Bilawal House residence in this southern port city.

"I can't give you the date, but she will be here for the next elections," Zardari said, insisting 2005 would be election year in Pakistan.

" Benazir will create history by becoming the premier for the third time."

Zardari, who spent eight years in detention, was released on Monday last week after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the last of 17 cases of graft, murder and drug smuggling.

" Benazir has a role to play in Pakistan politics and the vote bank belongs to her," he said.

Benazir, who governed Pakistan twice -- from 1988 to 1990 and 1993 to 1996 -- lives in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai.

She left Pakistan in April 1998 and was convicted in absentia of corruption and other charges which she rejects as political victimisation to keep her away from last polls held in 2002.

The government has said the present parliament would complete its five-year tenure until 2007.

Zardari rejected speculation his release was linked to any deal with the government.

"I rejected all offers and preferred prison," he said.

"Democracy is our shield and we cannot compromise with the authoritarian rulers," he said.

He said his "villainous image" was painted by successive authoritarian governments to malign Benazir.

Zardari, who was arrested on November 4, 1996 said during custody intelligence agencies wanted "to break me through physical and mental torture in order to pressure Benazir, but they failed."

"Sleep deprivation for hours during interrogation resulted in my spine problem," Zardari said.

"I was asked to sit on a chair, which was not very comfortable. When I started getting sleepy they forced me not to sleep and asked all kind of questions."

On the possibility of accepting General Pervez Musharraf as both president and the army chief, Zardari said: "Democracy and authoritarian rules can't go together."

"He (Musharraf) can contest fresh presidential elections, but not as a general. It goes without saying."

Zardari expressed his confidence in bringing all the political parties from liberal to secular and progressive to religious on one platform.

"I can be a bridge for all the political forces to agree on minimum points of democracy and supremacy of parliament," he said.