WASHINGTON, Sept 25: The United States is not aware of any legal bar on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s returning to Pakistan, says the US State Department.

At a regular briefing at the State Department, deputy spokesman Tom Casey said that while Ms Bhutto herself has to take the decision to return home, “Our understanding, at least my best understanding is that there’s no legal bar to her to return to the country.”

The State Department official made it clear that the United States does not want to get involved in Pakistan’s internal political issues which should be decided by the Pakistanis in accordance with their laws and the Constitution.

“There are issues that are currently before the Supreme Court about the elections. There are concerns, including ones that had been raised by our embassy in Islamabad on Monday, about the arrest of a number of political figures,” he said, adding that what is important is that there is a political process under way, but that political process needs to be conducted and dealt with in accordance with Pakistan’s laws and the Constitution.

“That’s certainly what we want to see happen,” Mr Casey said.