Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is to return home on 18 October after more than eight years in exile, a senior aide has said.
Ms Bhutto faces corruption charges and possibly arrest in Pakistan. However, she has been in talks with President Pervez Musharraf about the chance of sharing power after a general election due around the end of the year.
The vice chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, said Ms Bhutto would land Karachi in October.
The developments will be closely watched in Washington and other Western capitals, as Pakistan under Mr Musharraf has been an important ally in US-led anti-terrorism efforts.
Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said Ms Bhutto could return home, but said the law will take its course. 'She has to face corruption cases pending against her in the courts'.
Earlier this week, authorities bundled off another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to Saudi Arabia hours after he landed at Islamabad airport following a seven-year exile.
But Nawaz Sharif is the man Mr Musharraf ousted eight years ago, whereas Benazir Bhutto is a potential ally.
Ms Bhutto served as prime minister from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996.
She was dismissed for alleged corruption on both occasions but has denied all accusations.
Ms Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999, although she was never convicted.
