Bhutto books return flight

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto plans to return to Karachi by Emirates Airlines to end her self-imposed exile on October 18 and challenge President Pervez Musharraf, who is seeking another term in presidential elections on October 6.

Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has reserved at least 130 seats on the Gulf-based airlines for those accompanying her expected to include British parliamentarians, a media delegation and party officials, the state-run APP news agency said.

Party officials were quoted as saying on Thursday that the PPP chief plans to land at Karachi on October 18 after a two-hour stopover in Dubai.

The PPP central executive committee will meet on October 3 to finalise arrangements for Bhuttos return to Pakistan.

Bhutto has failed to finalise a power sharing deal with General Musharraf. She has said a deal with Musharraf is not possible unless he takes concrete steps towards democracy.

The PPP leader has threatened to withdraw her lawmakers from Parliament if Musharraf does not compromise, for instance by lifting a ban on her serving a third term as prime minister.