‘We Will Not be Blackmailed’

In the past, civilian governments didn't have much of a role in formulating defense and security policies. Will yours?
Certainly, yes. We are the government and we will formulate the defense policy. The army chief has already briefed me and my coalition partners here about what they have in mind about law and order, especially in FATA, as well as about nuclear and other defense projects. We will formulate a policy that will be handed over to [the military] for implementation. The other day I went [with Kayani] for the test [firing] of the Shaheen-II [nuclear-capable] missile. It was a very good experiment. We are having good relations.

Your coalition partner Nawaz Sharif seems to take a much harder line than you regarding Musharraf, whom he wants to resign, and the immediate restoration of the judges. Can your coalition survive the strain?
When you agree to disagree, that's democracy. Nawaz Sharif's and ours are two different parties. We have not merged. They have their own manifesto and programs. But for bare minimum issues we are together. As far as judges are concerned their position and ours are the same. As for the war on terror our positions are the same. He may be more hardline. But I've worked with him previously and I'm still working with him. He's a good and experienced person. He was prime minister twice and he is thinking of the national interest. There is no reason the coalition won't last.

But what about his insistence that Musharraf be pushed out?
As far as Musharraf is concerned, the people of this country have given a clear mandate against his policies, against his undemocratic acts. Therefore we want to work with him according to the constitution. If Nawaz feels [Musharraf] should not be here, then the constitution has to be followed. That can't be dealt with by desires. It [impeachment] can only be worked out if [Sharif] has the [two-thirds] majority in both houses [of parliament]. But Musharraf is not the issue. The main issues are terrorism and extremism, fundamentalism, food and electricity shortages and the economy, which is totally in a mess.

Have you been encouraged by your initial contacts with U.S. officials?
I got a telephone call from President Bush, and also from Sen. Hillary Clinton. They expressed a desire to help Pakistan. [Bush] has invited me [to Washington]. But we have a lot of things to do on the home ground first.

How long do you expect to remain in office in view of Zardari's recent comment that he would become premier if the need arose?
The PPP is a very democratic party with roots in all four provinces. We have decided to separate the party and the government offices. I'm PPP vice chairman, but I don't attend party meetings. The party formulates the policies, and the government implements the policies. I'm here because of the party, and I'll be here as long as the party wishes me to be.

What role will the party's two co-chairmen [Bhutto's widower Zardari and his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari] play in your government?
The party and the two co-chairpersons formulate the party's policies with consensus of the coalition partners. Once the policies are made they are given to the government to execute them. As chief executive I'm implementing the policies and manifesto of my party from the very first day when I became prime minister.