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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Bhutto announces Pakistan return | Bhutto announces Pakistan return |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's former PM Benazir Bhutto will return from self-imposed exile on 18 October, she has told the BBC. | Pakistan's former PM Benazir Bhutto will return from self-imposed exile on 18 October, she has told the BBC. |
| Ms Bhutto said she felt confident that the people of Pakistan would "rally around me" because they wanted democracy restored. | Ms Bhutto said she felt confident that the people of Pakistan would "rally around me" because they wanted democracy restored. |
| She faces possible corruption charges on her return to Pakistan. | She faces possible corruption charges on her return to Pakistan. |
| Ms Bhutto, who leads the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has been trying unsuccessfully to reach a power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf. | Ms Bhutto, who leads the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has been trying unsuccessfully to reach a power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf. |
| She says he cannot be both president and head of the army. | She says he cannot be both president and head of the army. |
| 'False charges' | 'False charges' |
| "Pakistan is a military dictatorship, led by a sitting chief of army staff," Ms Bhutto told BBC radio. | "Pakistan is a military dictatorship, led by a sitting chief of army staff," Ms Bhutto told BBC radio. |
| The ball is now in General Musharraf's court Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's ex-PM class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6996032.stm">Planning Bhutto's return | |
| The Pakistani authorities said earlier on Friday they would not obstruct Ms Bhutto's return, but she would still have to face corruption charges in court | The Pakistani authorities said earlier on Friday they would not obstruct Ms Bhutto's return, but she would still have to face corruption charges in court |
| In response, Ms Bhutto said there was "nothing new in these threats". | In response, Ms Bhutto said there was "nothing new in these threats". |
| "I'm not worried about these false charges," she added. | "I'm not worried about these false charges," she added. |
| She also confirmed that the power-sharing talks with Gen Musharraf had stalled, because "the people around General Musharraf were thoroughly opposed to any understanding between us". | She also confirmed that the power-sharing talks with Gen Musharraf had stalled, because "the people around General Musharraf were thoroughly opposed to any understanding between us". |
| "The ball is now in General Musharraf's court. If he wants to hold fair, free and impartial elections, I think he really needs to do a deal with the opposition," she said. | "The ball is now in General Musharraf's court. If he wants to hold fair, free and impartial elections, I think he really needs to do a deal with the opposition," she said. |
| Bhutto's extraordinary career Q&A: Political crisis | Bhutto's extraordinary career Q&A: Political crisis |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says it is not yet clear whether she will return as the general's opponent or his main political support. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says it is not yet clear whether she will return as the general's opponent or his main political support. |
| Analysts say the failure of the ruling pro-military PML-Q party to bring greater support and legitimacy to the army-led government forced Gen Musharraf to seek a dialogue with Ms Bhutto, whose party received the largest number of votes in the 2002 elections. | Analysts say the failure of the ruling pro-military PML-Q party to bring greater support and legitimacy to the army-led government forced Gen Musharraf to seek a dialogue with Ms Bhutto, whose party received the largest number of votes in the 2002 elections. |
| Another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, made an abortive bid to return to Pakistan on Monday to challenge Gen Musharraf. | Another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, made an abortive bid to return to Pakistan on Monday to challenge Gen Musharraf. |
| He was deported to Saudi Arabia within hours, after being charged with money laundering and corruption. | He was deported to Saudi Arabia within hours, after being charged with money laundering and corruption. |
| The government says Ms Bhutto will not face deportation. | The government says Ms Bhutto will not face deportation. |
| 'Long live Benazir' | 'Long live Benazir' |
| Ms Bhutto's supporters erupted into chants of "Long Live Benazir! Prime Minister Benazir!" when the announcement was first made by the PPP's vice president, Makhdoom Amin Fahim. | Ms Bhutto's supporters erupted into chants of "Long Live Benazir! Prime Minister Benazir!" when the announcement was first made by the PPP's vice president, Makhdoom Amin Fahim. |
| He called on supporters and voters to receive Ms Bhutto on her arrival at the airport in Karachi, the capital of her home province of Sindh. | He called on supporters and voters to receive Ms Bhutto on her arrival at the airport in Karachi, the capital of her home province of Sindh. |
| KEY DATES 23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return10 Sep: Mr Sharif arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia on his return to Pakistan11 Sep: Lawyers for Mr Sharif challenge his deportation in the Supreme Court14 Sept: Ms Bhutto to announce details of her homecoming15 Sep-15 Oct: Timeframe Gen Musharraf has set for his re-election as president by parliament15 November: Parliament expires and general election must be held | KEY DATES 23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return10 Sep: Mr Sharif arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia on his return to Pakistan11 Sep: Lawyers for Mr Sharif challenge his deportation in the Supreme Court14 Sept: Ms Bhutto to announce details of her homecoming15 Sep-15 Oct: Timeframe Gen Musharraf has set for his re-election as president by parliament15 November: Parliament expires and general election must be held |
| "We only need the support of the people of Pakistan", Mr Fahim said when asked about the PPP's negotiations with Gen Musharraf. | "We only need the support of the people of Pakistan", Mr Fahim said when asked about the PPP's negotiations with Gen Musharraf. |
| Ms Bhutto's scheduled return comes shortly after Gen Musharraf is expected to seek to extend his eight-year rule in indirect elections that he says will be held sometime between 15 September and 15 October. | Ms Bhutto's scheduled return comes shortly after Gen Musharraf is expected to seek to extend his eight-year rule in indirect elections that he says will be held sometime between 15 September and 15 October. |
| Parliamentary elections are expected to be held by January 2008. | Parliamentary elections are expected to be held by January 2008. |
| Ms Bhutto has held talks with the government, indicating that her party may be willing to accept Gen Musharraf if he gives up his post as the army chief. | Ms Bhutto has held talks with the government, indicating that her party may be willing to accept Gen Musharraf if he gives up his post as the army chief. |
| She wants to strike down a constitutional clause that gives the president discretionary powers to dissolve assemblies and governments. | She wants to strike down a constitutional clause that gives the president discretionary powers to dissolve assemblies and governments. |
| She has also demanded the withdrawal of cases against her and Mr Sharif, and wants to reverse a constitutional amendment that bars prime ministerial candidates from seeking more than two terms in office. | She has also demanded the withdrawal of cases against her and Mr Sharif, and wants to reverse a constitutional amendment that bars prime ministerial candidates from seeking more than two terms in office. |
| The current law would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif. Ms Bhutto served as prime minister - from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. | The current law would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif. Ms Bhutto served as prime minister - from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. |
| She was dismissed for alleged corruption on both occasions and left Pakistan in 1999, although she was never convicted. | She was dismissed for alleged corruption on both occasions and left Pakistan in 1999, although she was never convicted. |