Pakistan's Bhutto again aims to end army rule

By Robert Birsel

KARACHI (Reuters) - For the second time in a roller-coaster political career, Benazir Bhutto has returned to Pakistan after years abroad, aiming to end military rule and steer her turbulent country toward democracy.

In 1986, a vast sea of supporters welcomed her as she came back to challenge a military dictator who had executed her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, seven years earlier.

On Thursday, Bhutto, 54, came back after more than eight years abroad. But rather than confronting a military ruler, she is hoping to work with army chief and president Pervez Musharraf for a peaceful transition to civilian rule.

Her stand has raised questions among some who want to force

the powerful military out of politics, including some in her Pakistan People's Party, but she still possesses more mass appeal than any other leader.

While the crowds out to greet her in Karachi on Thursday might not be quite as big as they were 21 years ago, Bhutto faces similar perils on a path that has taken her from the country's jails to its corridors of power, and could bring her back to power again.

Bhutto became the first female prime minister in the Muslim world when she was elected in 1988 at age 35. She was deposed in 1990, re-elected in 1993, and ousted again in 1996 amid charges of corruption and mismanagement.

She says the charges were politically motivated but in 1999

chose to stay in exile rather than face them.

Despite being in the wilderness most of the last decade, the tall, stately Bhutto remains one of the most recognizable female politicians in the world.

Musharraf has vowed to quit the army but needed Bhutto's support to give an October 6 presidential election, boycotted by other opposition parties, an element of legitimacy. In return, he promulgated an ordinance erasing the corruption charges.

But the fate of Musharraf's re-election and Bhutto's amnesty rest with the Supreme Court which has to rule on their legality.

Until then, the old rivals are likely to put on hold talks on a pact that could see Bhutto supporting Musharraf after a general election due in January.

Western allies see their cooperation as the best way to sustain the nuclear-armed Muslim country's efforts against terrorism.

Bhutto's security will be a huge worry.