Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to register the political party of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf in response to an application, commission officials said on Tuesday.

After being registered, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) would be able to participate in the next general elections, due in 2013.

Musharraf, who stepped down in August 2008 after the general elections won by his political foes, had gone into self-imposed exile, living mostly in London. He launched the party from the UK in October last year.

He has named March 12, 2012, as his date of return to Pakistan, where he is an accused in a court case into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed in December 2007 while he was in power.

Musharraf's party reportedly promises peace, employment and justice.