Bhutto to reveal return plan today : Pak govt

Islamabad, Oct 16: The Pakistan government has said former prime minister Benazir Bhutto will convey her final plan of return to the country today.

The government has been asking the Pakistan People's Party chief, who is living in a self-imposed exile, to delay her return scheduled for October 18.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, however, said it was unlikely that the PPP chief would change her plans.

The Minister clarified that the government has no intention to block her on return as a better understanding already existed between the PPP and the government.

''Ms Benazir has only been asked to reschedule her planned return, but if she has finalised her schedule then government is ready to welcome her,'' he said in an interview to a private TV channel.

Ms Bhutto has been apprised of the factual position and the overall atmosphere in the country. ''She should better delay her return and come back when election schedule is announced,'' he said.

To a question, he said Ms Bhutto should not blame the PML for creating impediments in the power sharing deal because President Pervez Musharraf has full command on the party, despite dissenting views.

He also made it clear that the PML and the PPP will fight elections against each other, however, local level understandings between the two are possible. The Minister did not deny a post-poll alliance between the two parties.

UNI