Special report: Pakistani Situation      

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto arrives in the airport of Islamabad, Pakistan, Dec. 11, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto arrived here from Dubai Tuesday morning after visited her family over there, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

    Bhutto left Pakistan for Dubai on Friday evening to see her children and ailing mother, and has returned to launch her party's campaign for general elections in the country, the APP said.

    Bhutto said that she welcomed the decision of Nawaz Sharif, top leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to contest the upcoming general elections. She added that seat adjustment was possible with PML-N and other parties.

    Sources with PPP disclosed on Monday that Bhutto would likely address PPP workers' convention in Mardan in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on Tuesday and would go to Nowshera in NWFP on Wednesday to address a PPP meeting.

    The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), comprising around 30 opposition parties including PML-N, held a meeting in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday. However, the alliance failed to reach a consensus on whether to boycott the general elections.

    Sharif, also leader of the APDM, announced at a news briefing after the meeting that the component parties of APDM would be free to decide whether to contest the general elections or not.

    PML-N and several other APDM component parties said that they would participate in the general elections following the announcement. Some political parties including PPP hailed Sharif's decision.

    However, some hardcore parties which remained resolute on boycotting the elections accused Sharif of betraying APDM. Those parties decided on Monday to expel the parties that had decided to contest elections and formed a new "APDM" including only 24 parties.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto (R) looks at the electing posters as she arrives in the airport of Islamabad, Pakistan, Dec. 11, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Bhutto leaves for Dubai to see family

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto (C) prays over the tomb of a Sufi saint on the outskirts of Islamabad Dec. 6, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Former Prime Minister and Pakistan People's Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto Friday morning left for Dubai on a three-day visit to see her children and ailing mother Nusrat Bhutto, according to the official APP news agency.

    "Benazir Bhutto boarded flight EK-613 at 0900 hours (0400 GMT) early Friday," an official of the Pakistan People's Party said.  Full story

PPP welcomes Sharif's decision not to boycott elections

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan People's Party Monday welcomed the decision by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to participate in the forthcoming elections under protest, following the advice of PPP Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

    In a statement Monday, PPP Secretary General Jehangir Bader said that this vindicated the PPP's strategy for securing restoration of democracy.  Full story

Sharif urges Bhutto to set cut-off date for judges restoration

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Former Prime Minister and PML-N party leader Nawaz Sharif Friday urged Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto to set a cut-off date for restoration of judges deposed under emergency.

    Sharif admitted that the All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDM) and the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) could not reach any conclusion for giving a Charter of Demands to the government due to differences over the issue of judges.  Full story

Bhutto says PPP to participate in general elections in Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan People's Party (PPP) will participate in the upcoming general elections to ensure peaceful transition to democracy, PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto said Thursday. 

    Talking to reporters after a visit to Shrine of Peer of Golra Sharif near the capital Islamabad, Benazir said that free and fair elections were essential for smooth transition of power and PPP had decided to participate in the polls, which are scheduled to beheld on Jan. 8 next year.  Full story

Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto says to contest general elections

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on Monday told visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul that her party would contest the forthcoming general elections in Pakistan, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

    Benazir met with Abdullah Gul and exchanged views on matters of bilateral and mutual interest. "The meeting was very useful and we discussed all issues of bilateral interest including transition of power in Turkey," Benazir said when addressing reporters after the meeting. Full story

Bhutto files for nomination in upcoming elections

    ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani former prime minister and main opposition leader Benazir Bhutto filed for her nominations Monday for national assembly elections in the southern central city of Larkana, local media reported.

    "Despite calls for boycott of the polls by main opposition camps ...Elections have been announced and all the main players have jumped into the arena," the Dawn News channel said, noting that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also expected to file for his nominations later the day.  Full story