(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-14 10:12

ISLAMABAD -- The Federal Minister for Railways of Pakistan Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday that there was no hurdle from the government in the way of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's return to the country, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto speaks to the media at a house in London Oct. 4, 2007.[Xinhua]

Talking to journalists at an Iftar dinner in Rawalpindi, a city near the capital, Rashid said that Benazir Bhutto who was also chairperson of Pakistan People's Party would decide whether she would arrive on October 18 or not.

President General Pervez Musharraf reiterated on Friday that Bhutto should delay her return to Pakistan. "There is a lot happening here. There are court cases and I think she should come after that," Musharraf said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation Television. Musharraf added that he would not like to prevent her from returning home.

According to the National Reconciliation Ordinance 2007, which was signed and promulgated by Musharraf last Friday, the corruption cases Benazir Bhutto was facing would be withdrawn, paving the way for her return.

However, the Supreme Court on Friday held that any benefit drawn by any public office holder under the Ordinance would be subject to a final decision of the court, which was hearing some petitions challenging the Ordinance.

The decision of the Supreme Court might bring a negative impact on Bhutto's plan for return because it would take about a month for the Supreme Court to give a verdict on the Ordinance, a local newspaper The News reported on Saturday.

An aide of Benazir Bhutto said on Friday that Bhutto's plan would not be affected by the Supreme Court's decision and she would return to Pakistan as scheduled.

Bhutto served twice as Pakistan's prime minister in 1988 and 1993. She was charged with corruption and faced a number of legal proceedings in Pakistan. Bhutto has been living in exile since 1999.