Bhutto sets October 18 date for return

The PPP8217;s announcement came four days after deposed premier Nawaz Sharif was deported to Jeddah within hours of his arrival here to end his seven-year exile in an attempt to challenge the rule of President Pervez Musharraf.

Bhutto, who has been living in self-exile in Dubai and London since 1999, last month held a meeting with General Musharraf in Abu Dhabi on a possible power-sharing arrangement. The talks between the two sides were reportedly stalled after Benazir Bhutto insisted that the bar on a person serving as prime minister for more than two terms be lifted.

Bhutto, who was prime minister from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996, faces graft charges in Pakistan.

She had last year signed a 8216;Charter of Democracy8217; with Sharif in which they both had vowed not to deal with the military rulers. She came in for severe criticism by Sharif for her talks with the Musharraf regime.