Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is determined to return to Pakistan from self-exile on October 18, the Pakistan People's Party said in Islamabad on Monday. The government had asked Bhutto to postpone her homecoming till the Supreme Court decides on petitions against President Pervez Musharraf's re-election and a law giving Bhutto amnesty in graft cases.
Putting to rest speculations that Bhutto might put off her return, PPP spokesperson Sherry Rehman said there was no confusion about the two-time prime minister's programme to fly to Karachi on Thursday. "We have repeatedly announced that she is on schedule as per her original programme," Rehman said.
Rehman claimed that there was a conspiracy by insecure government circles which were worried by the public response to Bhutto's decision to return home and the massive arrangements being made by the PPP to welcome her.
"Perhaps that is leading to some of the deep-seated insecurity (in the government) to confront the challenge (posed by) Bhutto," Rehman said.
Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, a close confidant of Musharraf, however, said the ruling Pakistan Muslim League was not afraid of Bhutto.
The petitions challenging Musharraf's candidacy to contest the presidential poll in uniform will come up in the Supreme Court on October 17 and the petition challenging the ordinance which gives amnesty to Bhutto will come up for hearing in November.
He indicated that the government expected Bhutto to take a final decision about her return on October 16.
"The government has advised her to reconsider her schedule but if she is insisting that she has to come at any cost, let her come. The government's concrete opinion is that the law and order situation in Pakistan is not so well and let the Supreme Court's decision (on the ordinance granting Bhutto amnesty in corruption cases) come first," said Ahmed.
"Then after that if she comes, that's well and good. But even then if she insists on coming on October 18, she's welcome," he added.
Days after Musharraf asked Bhutto to defer her homecoming, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday that she was free to return but the laws of the country would apply to her if the Supreme Court struck down the National Reconciliation Ordinance that gave her amnesty in graft cases. "The people have had a strong reaction to the removal of corruption cases against Bhutto," said Aziz.
Rashid also referred to the legal challenge to the ordinance and said: "The decision of the Supreme Court is pending regarding her case and she will have to face the music if the Supreme Court cancels the ordinance. Then she may be in trouble."
Threats to Bhutto's life are also a matter of concern for the PPP, said Rehman, adding that the party expected the government to provide her security in keeping with her status as a former two-time prime minister.
"We expect them to provide her security. As a two-time prime minister, she is entitled to protection from all quarters, especially the government whose responsibility it is to maintain law and order and provide security to all citizens," Rehman said.
Baitullah Mehsud, a pro-Taliban militant leader linked to al-Qaida, has threatened that his suicide bombers will be ready for Bhutto when she returns.