Islamabad, Oct 5 : President Pervez Musharraf has acknowledged for the first time that former premier Benazir Bhutto has a kind of support at the grassroot level that cannot be eroded or wished away.

In a wide-ranging interview with Dawn News TV at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, Musharraf elaborated on reasons for deciding to quit the Army Chief’s position and for continuing as a civilian President, and also about his efforts for bring Bhutto and other moderates close to each other.

Musharraf forcefully justified his decision to hang on to power by getting elected for a second term by insisting that it was necessary to ensure a smooth transition to what he called "true democracy".

But at the same time he dropped the clearest hint to date that Bhutto and her party may have a role in a future set-up, and depending on the election results, he said they can also be allies.

Musharraf took pains in explaining that his change of heart did not mean that he had forgotten about the corruption charges he had been levelling against Bhutto.

He said that none of those charges against Bhutto had been proved in a court of law, and "now that there is a greater need to bring together forces that believe in moderation to take on religious extremism."

Musharraf was quite reluctant to admit that he had had a one-on-one meeting with Bhutto in Abu Dhabi recently, brushing aside the question with a smile.

"No comment" was his response to a series of questions asked about various aspects of the contacts between him and Bhutto.

In fact, he justified the need to maintain secrecy about certain aspects for this kind of contact, and said it may help in evolving some kind of an "understanding".

Musharraf admitted that he and his political allies had been preoccupied lately with sorting out some fundamental matters linked to his own election, as well as the move for national reconciliation -- a euphemism for a post-election deal with Bhutto.

He expressed his amazement over the trickling out of the news of the late-night meeting at the presidency trickled out, and played down concerns expressed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on giving concessions to Bhutto.

He said a wrong impression was being created about the PML-Q leader, and Shujaat is completely on board in the crucial decision-making process.
When asked if he was considering involving Nawaz Sharif in such a process of national reconciliation, Musharraf said talks could be held with his party, but Sharif had himself opted to go out of the country.

Musharraf is not only confident of winning in the presidential election, but said he was fully prepared to work as a civilian leader.

"No, I am not feeling vulnerable," he said in reply to a question if quitting the post of Army Chief would weaken his position.

Musharraf was a bit careful in his choice of words while discussing the issue of judiciary, maintaining that the reference against the chief justice was legal and constitutional. According to him, it cannot be described as a mistake.

Musharraf also described the growing tide of religious extremism as one of the most disturbing phenomena.

"It is precisely for this reason that I am calling upon forces of moderation to join hands," he added. (ANI)