Benazir and Nawaz can't become Prime Minister third time: Rashid

A vocal minister claims a reported power deal between President Pervez Musharraf and exiled leader Benazir Bhutto is still intact but casts doubts on whether she can become Prime Minister third time.
"Contacts between the government and Benazir (BB) are moving on at a right pace," Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told a news conference here on Monday.
But he adds she cannot become PM for third time unless the Constitution is amended. Under an amendment to the Constitution in early 2004, nobody can become the premier more than twice.
Elected twice as Prime Minister in 80s and 90s, BB is reportedly seeking a secret power deal with Musharraf to become Premier again. Her Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) denies it. She is facing corruption charges and on self-exile since 1997.
A deal is the only way that can ensure Benazir's return, Sheikh says. "Whenever Benazir comes, she will have to come under an understanding." Bold and influential, Rashid held information ministry portfolio for years before he was given the railways charge. His statements are often thought to be 'important' messages.
Rashid's comments came a day after Bhutto has reportedly told an international television channel she and another former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have agreed on a power sharing formula for a decade.
Bhutto says she and Sharif will rule fore five years one after other under the understanding. Sheikh ridicules this and says Bhutto is cheating Nawaz. Sharif has also remained the Prime Minister twice in 90s. He was overtaken by military chief Musharraf in a 1999 coup.
"How can those who are not illegible to become prime minister talk of power sharing formulae," Rashid says.
VOTERS LISTS:
The minister also complains the names of more than 50,000 people from his electoral constituencies in Rawalpindi alone were missing from new lists the election authorities have prepared recently.
But he doesn't blame the Election Commission for this. In his view, it happens because people are not co-operating with the authorities. "This is a hard fact and we will have to search some solution," the minister says.
On a question, Sheikh says he believes Musharraf should remain in uniform and must seek re-election from the present assemblies. He says this is important to hold next general elections in time.