Bhutto to detail Pakistan return

Ms Bhutto has had an extraordinary career

Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto is due to announce the date of her return to Pakistan, despite reaching no power-sharing deal with the government.

Ms Bhutto had been in talks to become PM again, with beleaguered Gen Pervez Musharraf stepping down as army chief but seeking a new term as president.

She has said Pakistan needs "internal reconciliation" and democracy.

Another former PM, 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.

The government says Ms Bhutto will not face deportation.

'Differences remain'

Correspondents say Ms Bhutto is likely to announce her return on a date around the celebrations at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

KEY DATES 23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return 10 Sep: Mr Sharif arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia on his return to Pakistan 11 Sep: Lawyers for Mr Sharif challenge his deportation in the Supreme Court 14 Sept: Ms Bhutto to announce details of her homecoming 15 Sep-15 Oct: Timeframe Gen Musharraf has set for his re-election as president by parliament 15 November: Parliament expires and general election must be held Bhutto's extraordinary career Q&A: Political crisis

In a statement issued on Thursday, Ms Bhutto said she could not be deported like Mr Sharif because, unlike Mr Sharif, she did not sign any "exile deal" with the government.

The government has now backed that view.

"Nawaz Sharif's case was different. He went back to Saudi Arabia because of an undertaking he had with the Saudi government," Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim told the Associated Press news agency.

Benazir Bhutto "was always allowed to come back."

Ms Bhutto has been engaged in 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 has also been demanding 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 also wants to strike down a constitutional clause that gives the president discretionary powers to dissolve assemblies and governments.

Trust deficit

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.

Correspondents say US top officials, who want Gen Musharraf's continued support for their 'war on terror', also feel that Ms Bhutto can bring greater stability and acceptance to a government led by Gen Musharraf and the army.

However, analysts feel there has been a deficit of trust between the two leaders, causing the talks to stall on many previous occasions.

Gen Musharraf is seeking support in his hopes to be re-elected as president.

But he is under pressure, including from the US, to honour a commitment to stand down as army chief.

The president is under pressure to step down as army head

Under current Pakistani law, prime ministers cannot serve more than two terms - which would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif.

Ms Bhutto has served two terms as prime minister - from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996.

She was dismissed for alleged corruption on both occasions but has steadfastly denied all accusations. She left Pakistan in 1999 and has not returned.

Although she has not been convicted, corruption charges still hang over her.