Islamabad: In an attempt to cash on the US desire to see free and fair elections in Pakistan and embarrass President Pervez Musharraf, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has sought American intervention in the matter.

"The United States is a great Democracy. The Pakistani people look towards it to use its friendship with Musharraf to ensure that elections are in substance fair," Bhutto said welcoming US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca's statement that America "looks forward to the holding of free and fair elections that will return the country to Democratic rule".

"The United States considers raising the issue of elections open to all parties and candidates as provided by Constitution of Pakistan and the implementation of the joint opposition electoral reform package and respect for fundamental Human Rights," Bhutto, chairperson of Pakistan People's Party, said in a letter to Rocca, which was released to the press on August 3.

Attacking the military ruler for bringing rules not permitting everyone to contest the polls, she said, "This builds the impression that the elections are an eyewash for international consumption. Musharraf indicated in Washington during his February address to the Press Club that the electoral exercise was to 're-label' his dictatorship."

"Given Pakistan's crucial importance to the war against terror, the stability of the country is of critical importance. This stability can be sustained through the aspirations of the people of Pakistan. The denial of those aspirations can strengthen the non-democratic forces of militancy that articulate sentiments through the bullet rather than the ballot," she said.

PTI