Pakistan's former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, has vowed to return to her homeland to fight forthcoming general elections.

Under the constitution I can contest the election, and I plan to go back and contest it

Benazir Bhutto

Ms Bhutto, who faces arrest on arrival in Pakistan, says she is prepared to go to jail.

She lives in self-imposed exile, and has been sentenced to three years in prison for failing to return to Pakistan to answer corruption charges.

Her remarks came hours after another exiled former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, bowed out of the October contest by handing over the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League to his younger brother.

Recent decrees ban two-time former premiers from a third term, and rule out anyone with a criminal record.

Pakistan's two best known politicians are disqualified on both counts.

Opposition parties say the changes have been made essentially to keep Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif out of office.

New laws

Speaking to The New York Times from London, Ms Bhutto said she did not fear returning to the country she left in disgrace - something she planned to do in the next few weeks.

The charismatic daughter of Pakistan's first elected prime minister fled the country in 1999 after a corruption conviction.

Critics say President Musharraf is trying to hold on to power

That conviction was set aside by the Supreme Court, and a retrial ordered.

While Mr Sharif has handed over the reins of his party to his brother, Shahbaz, Ms Bhutto's defiant stance could jeopardise her party's chances in the elections, analysts say.

Her Pakistan People's Party has been emerging as the most powerful opposition force in the coming elections - but it faces disaster with Ms Bhutto at the helm, they say.

Electoral test

Under the new laws, all political parties have to complete their own internal elections and submit a list of candidates to the Election Commission by Monday.

The commission says it will reject parties which do not comply with the electoral laws.

But the PPP says it has no plans to dump its leader.

"There is no move to change Benazir Bhutto. She has been elected by the party and she is chairperson," spokesman Farhatullah Babar told the AFP news agency.