PAKISTAN
Bhutto arrives in Pakistan
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's plane has touched down Thursday in Karachi, her first visit to her native land since her exile 8 years ago.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
By Zeeshan Haider
KARACHI, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Former Pakistan Prime Minister
Benazir Bhutto ended eight years of self-exile on Thursday,
returning to Karachi where more than 200,000 supporters poured
onto the streets to welcome her home.
Benazir Bhutto ended eight years of self-exile on Thursday,
returning to Karachi where more than 200,000 supporters poured
onto the streets to welcome her home.
"I am thankful to God, I am very happy that I'm back in my
country and I was dreaming of this day," a tearful Bhutto told
Reuters as she disembarked an Emirates flight from Dubai and
kissed a Koran once she stepped on Pakistani soil.
country and I was dreaming of this day," a tearful Bhutto told
Reuters as she disembarked an Emirates flight from Dubai and
kissed a Koran once she stepped on Pakistani soil.
Bhutto returned to lead her Pakistan People's Party into
national elections meant to return the country to civilian
rule.
For years Bhutto had vowed to return to Pakistan to end
military dictatorship, yet she is coming back as a potential
ally for President Pervez Musharraf, the army chief who took
power in a 1999 coup.
national elections meant to return the country to civilian
rule.
For years Bhutto had vowed to return to Pakistan to end
military dictatorship, yet she is coming back as a potential
ally for President Pervez Musharraf, the army chief who took
power in a 1999 coup.
Before saying goodbye to her two daughters and husband,
Asif Ali Zardari, in Dubai, Bhutto described Pakistan as being
at a crossroads between democracy and dictatorship.
Asif Ali Zardari, in Dubai, Bhutto described Pakistan as being
at a crossroads between democracy and dictatorship.
Musharraf is going through his weakest period, and there is
strong speculation he will end up sharing power with Bhutto
after national elections due in early January.
strong speculation he will end up sharing power with Bhutto
after national elections due in early January.
The United States is believed to have quietly encouraged
their alliance in order to keep nuclear-armed Pakistan
pro-Western and committed to fighting al Qaeda and supporting
NATO's efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.
their alliance in order to keep nuclear-armed Pakistan
pro-Western and committed to fighting al Qaeda and supporting
NATO's efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.
Dressed in a green shalwar kameez (loose tunic and
trousers), her head covered by a white scarf, Bhutto stood in
plain view atop a truck designed to withstand a blast as it
edged through the throng outside the airport, ignoring police
advice to keep behind its bullet proof glass.
trousers), her head covered by a white scarf, Bhutto stood in
plain view atop a truck designed to withstand a blast as it
edged through the throng outside the airport, ignoring police
advice to keep behind its bullet proof glass.
"Now that the people have given their verdict, it is
necessary that the elections should be free and fair," she told
reporters before setting off at the head of a procession
through Karachi that was likely to last for hours.
necessary that the elections should be free and fair," she told
reporters before setting off at the head of a procession
through Karachi that was likely to last for hours.
Some 20,000 security personnel have been deployed to
provide protection against threatened suicide bomb attacks by
militants.
provide protection against threatened suicide bomb attacks by
militants.
Intelligence reports suggested at least three jihadi groups
linked to al Qaeda and the Taliban were plotting suicide
attacks, according to a provincial official.
linked to al Qaeda and the Taliban were plotting suicide
attacks, according to a provincial official.
"She has an agreement with America. We will carry out
attacks on Benazir Bhutto as we did on General Pervez
Musharraf," Haji Omar, a Taliban commander in the Waziristan
tribal region on the Afghan border, told Reuters by satellite
telephone.
attacks on Benazir Bhutto as we did on General Pervez
Musharraf," Haji Omar, a Taliban commander in the Waziristan
tribal region on the Afghan border, told Reuters by satellite
telephone.
While the rest of Pakistan was transfixed by Bhutto's
homecoming, Musharraf spent the morning at his army offices in
Rawalpindi, with no official engagements scheduled, an aide
said.
homecoming, Musharraf spent the morning at his army offices in
Rawalpindi, with no official engagements scheduled, an aide
said.
Bhutto's return pleased investors in the Karachi Stock
Exchange, whose main index has risen 47 percent this year.
Exchange, whose main index has risen 47 percent this year.
"There is a feeling that the political scenario will
stabilise now and there will be consistent economic policies,"
said Muzzamil Mussani, a dealer at JS Global Capital Ltd, as
the index hit a life high of 14,802.61 points, up over 1
percent.
stabilise now and there will be consistent economic policies,"
said Muzzamil Mussani, a dealer at JS Global Capital Ltd, as
the index hit a life high of 14,802.61 points, up over 1
percent.
HOMECOMING RALLY
A mass of people thronged the route to a site near the tomb
of Pakistan's founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, where Bhutto was
due to address a rally.
of Pakistan's founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, where Bhutto was
due to address a rally.
"I sold the goats in my house to travel to Karachi and
welcome Benazir Bhutto. Since the day she announced her
arrival, we lit oil lamps every night, and my old mother offers
long prayers for her safety and success," said Imdad Chandio, a
villager from the barren hinterland of Sindh province.
welcome Benazir Bhutto. Since the day she announced her
arrival, we lit oil lamps every night, and my old mother offers
long prayers for her safety and success," said Imdad Chandio, a
villager from the barren hinterland of Sindh province.
Red, black and green flags of Bhutto's Pakistan People's
Party festooned streets and billboards displayed giant images
of Bhutto's face.
Party festooned streets and billboards displayed giant images
of Bhutto's face.
Musharraf has already granted an amnesty to protect Bhutto
from corruption charges brought by the government of Nawaz
Sharif, the prime minister he overthrew and later exiled.
from corruption charges brought by the government of Nawaz
Sharif, the prime minister he overthrew and later exiled.
But the Supreme Court is challenging Musharraf's right to
bestow an amnesty. It is also hearing challenges to the
president's right to have stood for re-election while still
army chief in a ballot he won easily on Oct. 6, even though he
has promised to be sworn in as a civilian leader.
bestow an amnesty. It is also hearing challenges to the
president's right to have stood for re-election while still
army chief in a ballot he won easily on Oct. 6, even though he
has promised to be sworn in as a civilian leader.
Judge Javed Iqbal expected a ruling in 10 or 12 days time.
(Additional reporting by Imtiaz Shah and Asim Tanveer)
(Additional reporting by Imtiaz Shah and Asim Tanveer)
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