Dubai: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is on her way to Pakistan, with her flight due to touch down in Karachi at 1pm UAE time.
She was in good spirits as she began her historic journey home, ending an eight year exile, at around 7.15am on Thursday morning.
Audio: Click here to hear Benazir Bhutto talk about the threats which have been made to her (mp3)
Wearing clothes which resembled the colours of the Pakistan flag, she greeted the hundreds of supporters who had gathered on the road outside her Dubai house since 5am.
The former Prime Minister was then escorted to the airport by Dubai Police, where she was taken straight to the VIP terminal – leaving around 100 supporters, photographers and journalists unable to catch a glimpse.
Audio: Benazir Bhutto speaks about the deal with President Musharraf (mp3)
She was in high spirits before boarding her flight (Emirates EK606 to Karachi) laughing and joking with the media and her supporters, some of whom have traveled from London to join her on the journey.
The flight was delayed until 11.05am because of large numbers of her supporters at the airport, is due to land in Pakistan at 2pm (1pm UAE time).
After leaving the airport, a convoy of four bullet proof cars will take her to her final destination.
Audio: Benazir Bhutto on the battle for hearts and minds (mp3)
The 14km journey to the tomb of Pakistan's founding father, Mohammed Ali Jinnah is expected to take as long as 15 hours because of the huge number of people who have turned out in Pakistan to greet her.
But her security advisor Rehman Malik told Gulf News that he had been assured that there would be full security in Pakistan and that they would be allowed to hold a peaceful rally.
Gulf News reporter Ashfaq Ahmed is travelling to Karachi with Benazir Bhutto
