Benazir Bhutto greeted as hero in Pakistan

October 18, 2007

Karachik, Pakistan - Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto vowed to return democracy to Pakistan after her return from eight years of self-imposed exile Thursday.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto vowed to return democracy to Pakistan after her return from eight years of self-imposed exile Thursday.

Bhutto returned to her native country where she was greeted by a massive crowd of supporters.

Shortly after arriving in the southern port city of Karachi, Bhutto entered the bustling city streets in an armored motorcade for protection against the crush of supporters celebrating her arrival.

Bhutto said she was "emotionally overwhelmed" by the welcome, but she wasted no time addressing the political situation in Pakistan.

Minutes after her arrival at Karachi International Airport, Bhutto called for a return to democracy to repair Pakistan's tarnished image as a haven for terrorists.

"The people that you see outside are the real image of Pakistan," she told reporters. "If we get democracy, this is the face of Pakistan the world will see, not the face of extremists who have thrived under dictatorships."