ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto can return to Pakistan but will have to face corruption cases against her, the government said on Friday.Ms Bhutto will not be deported in the manner of another former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, a government spokesman said.

In an interview on Friday, Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim drew a clear distinction between the rights of Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto to return to Pakistan.

“Nawaz Sharif’s case was different. He went back to Saudi Arabia because of an undertaking he had with the Saudi government,” Mr Azim told The Associated Press. “She (Bhutto) was always allowed to come back.”

Asked about pending corruption cases against Ms Bhutto, he added: “It’s for the law to take its own course. Everybody has to face cases against them and the same applies to her.”

Mr Azim said the talks with Ms Bhutto were snagged over her desire for the corruption cases to be closed, for a constitutional amendment to let her seek a third term as prime minister, and over the president’s re-election.

“The talks are continuing but not at the same pace we might have wished. It’s in the national interest for a resolution between political leaders to be reached. But it should be in the national interest, not in the personal interest of anyone,” Mr Azim said.

On Friday, Mr Sharif’s party urged her not to reach terms with Musharraf.

“We welcome her coming back, but let me say that it will be an insult to democracy if she agrees to share power with a man who ousted the elected government of Nawaz Sharif and has caused irreparable damage to democratic institutions,” said Sadiq ul-Farooq, a senior figure in the party.

Mr Azim said the schedule for the presidential vote would be announced in the next three or four days. General elections are due by January.

Mr Azim confirmed reports that the chief of the ruling party, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, had suggested that Gen Musharraf’s wife, Sebha, could be a backup candidate for the presidency if Gen Musharraf was ruled ineligible to run.—AP