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Benazir coming on Oct 18

* Amin Fahim says PPP chairwoman to land in Karachi
* Door for talks with govt to remain open till October 18
* BB says it is unfortunate that PPP has not reached deal with govt

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/ KARACHI: Former premier Benazir Bhutto will land at the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi, on October 18.

PPP Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim made the announcement of Benazir’s return to Pakistan at a press conference at the party’s central secretariat here on Friday.

“I am giving this good news to the people that she is arriving on the 18th of October and will land in Karachi from where she will go to the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to pay homage to the founder of Pakistan. The time of her arrival and flight will be announced later,” said Fahim.

The moment Fahim announced this, a group of cheerful PPP workers started shouting “Welcome Benazir”, “Prime Minister Benazir”, turning the press conference into a party gathering.

Fahim said Benazir would restore real democracy in the country with the help of the people. “We don’t need to strike a deal with President Gen Pervez Musharraf. Our deal is with the people of Pakistan. However, the party has not closed the door for talks,” the PPP vice chairman said to questions on the ongoing talks and the reported power-sharing deal between Benazir and President Musharraf.

Fahim said the PPP was prepared to face any situation on Benazir’s return. He, however, neither denied nor confirmed the speculative reports of a meeting between Benazir Bhutto and US Assistant Secretary for South Asia Richard Boucher in Dubai.

In Lahore, PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badr announced Benazir’s return at a press conference at the local press club. The party has, meanwhile, formed three committees to finalise the arrangements to receive Benazir on October 18.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said Benazir could return home, but told Reuters: “The law will take its course. She has to face corruption cases pending against her in the courts.” The Associated Press reported Fahim as saying that the door for negotiations with the government would remain open until October 18.

Benazir told Dawn News that it was unfortunate that her party could not reach a deal with the government, but said she would return to Pakistan on October 18. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t reach an agreement despite our negotiations with the government, but I will definitely return on October 18.”

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