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Aides: Musharraf to Return to Pakistan March 24


Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf speaks during an interview with Reuters in Dubai, January 8, 2012 file photo.
Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf speaks during an interview with Reuters in Dubai, January 8, 2012 file photo.
Aides for Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf say the politician plans on returning to his home country on March 24 to take part in parliamentary elections.

Officials in Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) party announced Tuesday that party activists and members of the media will accompany the former leader as he arrives in Karachi from Dubai.

They also say that an advertising campaign for Musharraf will launch shortly before his return.

Musharraf has been in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai since 2008. He faces arrest in Pakistan for his alleged involvement in the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Speaking to VOA Monday, the former president maintained the cases pending against him have been framed and politicized. He added that he expects support from the people and that he will fight the cases in court.

Early last year, Musharraf had announced plans to return to Pakistan to lead his APML party and run in future elections, but he later changed his mind.

This time, the leader told VOA that it amounts to "now or never."
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