Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that in the event of the much-touted “deal” with President Pervez Musharraf failing to materialise, she might join hands with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif if he agrees to part ways with the Islamist Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.

Bhutto said she was negotiating with President Prevez Musharraf against the wishes of many in her party because of the confidence of the international community and the armed forces in him.

“If our negotiations with Musharraf fall apart, we can always turn to the other political party,” she told the The Washington Post and Newsweek.

“(But) Nawaz Sharif and I had a falling-out over the MMA. I think they (MMA) are the supporters of extremist groups. Nawaz wanted an alliance with them and I did not. As long as he is with them and they are in government, we will go as a third force,” the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader said.

The PPP chief, however, said that time for negotiations was “running out and both sides will know shortly where each stands.”

“Many in my party have been urging me to distance myself from General Musharraf. They say his popularity ratings are down,” she said.

“But I am trying to convince them that the international community and the armed forces have confidence in Musharraf, and therefore we need to work out a solution (with him).”

Bhutto said she was facing pressure from two sides — those in the party who believe in dialogue and those who think that time is running out and that she cannot continue talking “unless there are upfront confidence-building measures.”

The 54-year-old, who is living in self-exile for the last eight years, said Musharraf had been told that there cannot be an extension on his tenure as chief of army staff but said that he would still control the militray as the commander and chief.

“He has said that he would respect the Constitution. Even if the president is not the army chief of staff, he would still appoint the heads of the military, so he would still control the military as the commander in chief,” Bhutto said.

Bhutto said she has been demanding “a balance of power”, electoral reforms, lifting of the ban on a twice-elected prime minister for running for a third term, as well as immunity for all holders of public office prior to 1999 or 2000.