WASHINGTON, Sept 8: The US State Department has urged former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto to honour the terms of Pakistani law and constitutional process when they return to the country.

The statement, given at a regular briefing, is the first indication from the US government that it would not like the two leaders to rock the boat.

When a journalist asked State Department’s deputy spokesman at the briefing how would the US administration react to the return of the two prime ministers, Tom Casey said: “These are issues that are before the Pakistani political and judicial system. We’d expect them to honour the terms of Pakistani law and constitutional process.”

His comments seem even more significant if viewed against the backdrop of the order of an anti-terrorism court, asking police to arrest PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif on his return to the country. The government is seeking a similar order for Nawaz Sharif’s arrest.

There are speculations in the US media that the return of the two prime ministers — particularly that of Mr Sharif — can trigger a chain of events that may force Gen Pervez Musharraf to step down.