‘Even if a democratic government makes mistakes, that does not mean the army should overthrow it’

Even today he is an illegitimate president. The constitution does not allow for a man wearing a military uniform to sit in the president’s house ruling the country. This is what our struggle is for. We want to fight a decisive battle against dictatorship. Democracy has to win, dictatorship has to lose.

• You are accusing Musharraf of doing many of the things you did in the past. Have you learned from the many mistakes you made?

We all make mistakes. We are not angels. Whatever mistakes we make we have to learn from them and see that they are not repeated in the future. But even if a democratic government does make mistakes that does not mean that the army should overthrow it. Let the government be judged by the people, not by any individual or general.

• Aren’t you too close to the right-wing religious parties?

[My coalition] includes all the parties: secular and religious, big and small. It was Musharraf’s policy to sideline the moderate forces in Pakistan in 2002. My party was also sidelined and marginalised.

That created a vacuum for the religious parties to fill. Musharraf is responsible for the rise of the religious parties. Our [opposition] agenda is not religious.

• The Bush administration worries that without Musharraf the fight against Islamic extremism will falter. How would you wage the battle?

The US must not equate Pakistan with Musharraf. Extremism and radicalism thrives only under dictatorships. Never under democracy. It is democracy that can take care of this nemesis. I’m against terrorism. I’ve been fighting terrorism. I’ve been the target of terrorism. I had two narrow escapes when I was prime minister. It will not go down well with 160 million Pakistanis if the US continues to support one man against the people’s wishes.

• What role do you envision for the Pakistani military in the future?

The army needs to go back to its defence role, back to the barracks and learn that it has no role in politics. The problem always rises when the army steps out of its legitimate domain and interferes in politics. The army’s rank and file is very unhappy with Musharraf’s actions. They think he is acting above the law and the constitution.

• How are your relations with the military?

I’ve always had good relations with the military. I’ve always supported this institution that is being destroyed by its chief of army staff who happens to be Musharraf. I think Musharraf should realise his actions are alienating the army from him.

• What if Bhutto and Musharraf come to a power-sharing agreement?

That will be bad for Pakistan and democracy. It will be unfortunate if a person like Benazir Bhutto, who has been struggling for democracy all her life, strengthens the hand of dictatorship at this critical juncture.