Pakistan's president has asked ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to delay her return until the Supreme Court rules on the legality of his re-election.
Gen Pervez Musharraf swept the presidential election last week.
But he cannot be sworn in until the court decides petitions challenging his decision to contest the poll without giving up his army post.
Ms Bhutto plans to return from her self-imposed exile on 18 October, the day after the court begins sittng.
"I would say she should not come before. We must tide over these problems. She should come later," Gen Musharraf said in an interview broadcast on private ARY television network on Wednesday.
Asked whether she should return after the court's decision, he said: "Yes, certainly."
Landslide win
When asked how he would react if the court disqualified him from a fresh five-year term, he said, "We will cross the bridge when we reach it."
Gen Musharraf won Saturday's poll - held by the national parliament and four provincial assemblies - by a landslide. The poll was boycotted by some opposition parties
His election has been challenged in court on the ground that he continues to serve as army chief.
The Supreme Court will restart its deliberations on 17 October.
It insists no winner can be declared until it reaches a verdict.
Gen Musharraf has refused to lay his cards on the table saying, "let them (Supreme Court) come to their decision, then we will decide".
His lawyers have said he will step down as army chief, but only if he is re-elected.
The judges have said they would not make a final decision before 17 October, which coincides with the day Ms Bhutto says she will leave London to return from years of self-imposed exile.
Before the presidential poll, Ms Bhutto sealed an agreement with Gen Musharraf that gives her an amnesty on corruption charges. The pact could lead to the two sides agreeing to share power.
A parliamentary poll is due to be held by 15 January.
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