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Former Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto Travels to Dubai


Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto flew to Dubai Thursday after earlier canceling the trip over concerns the government might declare a state of emergency.

The former prime minister says she decided to go to Dubai to visit her ailing mother and other members of her family. Ms. Bhutto made the trip just two weeks after she returned to Pakistan, ending eight years of political exile.

Her return was marred by a double suicide attack targeting her motorcade in Karachi that killed nearly 140 people.

Ms. Bhutto said she had considered postponing her trip to Dubai due to rumors that President Pervez Musharraf may impose a state of emergency pending the outcome of a Supreme Court ruling on the legitimacy of his re-election last month.

In September, another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, was deported hours after he attempted to return to Pakistan from exile. The Supreme Court is also hearing arguments his deportation was illegal.

Mr. Sharif was overthrown by General Musharraf in 1999.

Members of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Party say Mr. Sharif is planning a return to Pakistan this month. However, no specific date has been announced.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP .

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