NEW YORK, Aug 11: Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto said on Saturday she had a “confidential understanding” with President Gen Pervez Musharraf on the principle of her return from self-imposed exile and on her demand that he should stand down from the army.

But Ms Bhutto said any deal with the president depended on him taking upfront confidence-building steps by the end of August, such as lifting a ban on politicians serving a third term as prime minister.

In an interview with Reuters, Ms Bhutto said she hoped to return to Pakistan by mid-October for general elections.

“I’m expecting the general elections to be called some time in October or November, but if I had my little Aladdin’s lamp then I would ask the genie to get me there by Eid which falls in October,” she said.

“I would like to go back to Pakistan sooner rather than later but General Musharraf still is opposed to my return to Pakistan.”

“He’s prepared for my return to Pakistan but the timing of it is under dispute between the two of us.”

Asked when she planned to return, she said she was thinking of between September and December.

Ms Bhutto said the UAE meeting also discussed election reforms to ensure a free and fair vote, adding that her party was waiting to see reforms implemented. If the elections turned out to be rigged, that would be a ‘deal-breaker’, she said.