Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto [Images] will return to Pakistan on October 18 independent of her negotiations with President Pervez Musharraf [Images], the self-exiled leader said in London [Images] on Saturday.

Bhutto, who might face corruption charges on her return to Pakistan, said she felt confident that the people of Pakistan will rally around her because they wanted democracy restored.

"I have indeed been having negotiations with General Musharraf for a transition to democracy and fair elections, but unfortunately we haven't been very successful," Bhutto said.

"So, I am returning independent of the negotiations with General Musharraf," she told the BBC. Bhutto's homecoming plans were announced at a news conference in Islamabad on Friday by the vice president of Pakistan People's Party Amin Fahim.

In response to the government's statement that she will have to face corruption charges on her return, Bhutto said "there is nothing new in these threats".

"I am not worried about these false charges," she added. Bhutto went on a self-imposed exile to avoid the graft allegations against her after Musharraf staged a coup in October 1999 and ousted then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

She said Musharraf cannot be both president and head of the army. "Pakistan is a military dictatorship, led by a sitting chief of army staff," Bhutto said.

The Pakistan government has said that the 54-year-old charismatic leader was free to come back but she will have to face corruption cases against her.

Bhutto said the power-sharing talks with Musharraf had stalled because "the people around Musharraf were thoroughly opposed to any understanding between us".