All set for Benazir’s homecoming today
Bureau Report

KARACHI—Strict security measures will be taken on the arrival of Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto in Karachi on Thursday (today).
The Government has imposed Section 144 in the city limits for seven days besides display of arms. Police will be deployed inside and outside the Airport to avoid any untoward incident. It has been further told that approximately 20,000 police officials and rangers will be deputed on October 18 in Karachi.
The important highways Faisal Highway, Quaideen Highway, and Mazar-e-Quaid will be swamped with police and Rangers. Huge Containers will be placed at important roads in Karachi while alternatives routes have been made to divert traffic. On the hand, PPPP leadership confirmed that a grand reception waits for BB when she lands in Karachi on October 18 adding that Government is bound to provide full security, as she has twice been Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Meanwhile Benazir Bhutto will return back to Pakistan on Thursday and will land at Karachi airport at 1:00pm through Emirates Airline Flight. Sindh Government Sources added that strict security measures would be taken on the occasion as BB is coming after nine years in Pakistan along with a delegation comprising 200 members.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister and Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party, Ms. Benazir Bhutto has said that her plan to return to Pakistan on Thursday was definite. Addressing a press conference, Benazir Bhutto said, “Nobody can keep me away from Pakistan. I have heard this morning that more than a million people are gathering in Karachi to welcome me.”
“I will keep my promise of returning to Pakistan. It is true the Pakistan government has been trying to keep me away from home but I have decided to return nevertheless,” a defiant Benazir said. “As I prepare to leave. I pray to God to bring democracy to my country and fulfill the aspirations of the people of my country,” she said.
‘’My party and I will rebuild civil society and set up infrastructure for providing education and livelihood at grass-roots levels, so that the country’s youth can take part in building a strong economy,’’ Ms. Bhutto said. To a question how she intends to take on pro-Taliban and radical movements in the Northwest territories, urban areas, madrassas, mosques etc, Ms. Bhutto said,’’ I believe that the absence of political parties causes a vacuum that the extremists fill.
‘’The key to successfully controlling fanaticism in the border areas is to make citizens aware of the dangers that extremists pose and to build a groundswell of support for the government, so that Pakistan can control the militants. ‘’I have moved the Supreme Court of Pakistan to allow political parties to function in FATA. We should recall that both PPP governments, from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996, aggressively administered these territories, and purged them of the most egregious drug barons that formed an international drug cartel. We will once again have open interactions with their constituencies; learn what they need to improve their lives and then to work toward developing policies that deliver those needs.