Bhutto insists on return home

Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto's party today rejected a call from President Musharraf to delay her return from exile.

Ms Bhutto, who went into self-imposed exile in 1999 to escape corruption charges, plans to fly back to the country next Thursday.

After months of power-sharing talks President Musharraf last week granted an amnesty from corruption charges against her and other politicians.

But yesterday he urged her to postpone her return until after the Supreme Court rules on his own eligibility for a new five-year presidential term.

The court is due to resume hearings on the Wednesday before Ms Bhutto is scheduled to land in Karachi.

But a spokesman for Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, said she was sticking to her plans.

President Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, was comfortable re-elected last weekend but faces at least a week of political limbo until the court decides whether he can take up office.

Speculation persists over whether he will declare martial law if disqualified.