Benazir to begin her home journey from Dubai

Dubai, Oct 13 (UNI) Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto will board her back home journey flight from Dubai on October 18.

Her return to Pakistan will finally bring the curtain down on her eight-year-old self-imposed exile.

''I may fly from Dubai to Karachi to return to Pakistan,'' the two-time premier was quoted as saying by Gulf News.

She, however, said the precise schedule will be announced on October 16.

Hundreds of her supporters had gathered yesterday at her residence in Dubai to greet her on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.

A senior PPP official said although the decision to fly out of Dubai was not final yet, it will most likely to happen.

He said since taking a flight from London and then stop over in Dubai for a few hours and then resume her journey to Pakistan will be quite hectic, therefore, a direct flight from Dubai is a better option.

A group of around 150 people, including some PPP leaders based in the UAE and London, EU parliamentarians, Commonwealth representatives and a large number of media persons, are expected to join her in the journey.

Speaking to party supporters, Ms Bhutto, against whom embattled President Pervez Musharraf recently dropped graft charges by promulgating an ordinance to facilitate her return, reiterated that she had no intentions to delay her return.

''We have been talking about our plans to go back for the last few years but this is the first time, we have announced the date of return. I will go back on schedule, come what may,'' she said.

On Wednesday, General Pervez Musharraf had asked Bhutto in a TV interview to put off her return till the announcement of the Supreme Court's verdict on the legality of his re-election.

However, she rejected the call.

''In fact, Gen Musharraf has no problems with my return but the ruling coalition, especially the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), is afraid of my return,'' she said.

UNI