Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he will end his self-imposed exile and return to Pakistan within weeks to take part in parliamentary elections.
Musharraf has not followed through on previous pledges to return to Pakistan.
But he told reporters in Dubai on Friday that he would head back in mid-March, as soon as an interim government is in place.
A caretaker administration is scheduled in mid-March to replace President Asif Ali Zardari's government.
Musharraf said he will lead his party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, in elections later this spring.
Musharraf seized power in a 1999 coup and briefly imposed a state of emergency in Pakistan before resigning in 2008. He has since lived in London and Dubai.
He faces allegations that he was part of a conspiracy to assassinate former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in late 2007.
He denies any wrongdoing in connection with her killing.