Bhutto thanks UAE for help in reconciliation

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday received former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhuto, WAM reported.

Bhutto, who came to offer greetings on Eid Al Fitr, was received in the presence of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister.

Bhutto thanked Shaikh Khalifa for his efforts to bring about reconciliation between her and Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, and make their views closer in the interest of Pakistan and its people.

She also expressed gratitude to the UAE for its role in helping the Pakistani people and in the development projects there.

Shaikh Khalifa stressed the importance of stability in Pakistan for the benefit of its people and economic development.

The meeting was attended by several ministers and senior officials.

In Islamabad, government ministers urged Bhutto to delay her planned return to Pakistan until the Supreme Court rules on a government amnesty on corruption charges against her.

Bhutto is set to arrive in Pakistan on Thursday after eight years in self-imposed exile to campaign for key general elections in January.