Pakistan's Musharraf Defies Taliban Death Threat to Return to Karachi

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has arrived in Karachi, in defiance of death threats from the Taliban.

Musharraf, who has ended his self-imposed exile by returning to Pakistan after staying in London and Dubai for four years, will contest the 11 May general election in the country.

On his arrival at Jinnah International Airport on a chartered Emirates flight, Musharraf was greeted by his All-Pakistan Muslim League party supporters, who thronged the streets to welcome him.

He is scheduled to hold a press conference at the airport at 5pm local time (1200GMT).

Earlier, he was denied permission by government officials to stage a rally near Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah's mausoleum.

Musharraf was visibly excited to return. He tweeted a picture of himself onboard the plane carrying him to Pakistan. In his tweet, he said: "Settled in my seat on the plane to begin my journey home. Pakistan First!"

He told the BBC that his return to Pakistan was akin to a "wedding party".

Earlier, Pakistan's Taliban had released video footage in which they threatened to kill Musharraf. Their spokesperson Adnan Rasheed, who once tried to assassinate Musharraf, said they had prepared a special squad of suicide bombers, a close combat team and a special assault unit in order to kill Musharraf.

Musharraf had angered the Pakistan Taliban by siding with the United States in its war on terror and for allegedly committing other anti-Islamist acts.

Musharraf shrugged off the death threat, saying: "I am going home as announced. I am not scared of anything - be it the death threat from terrorists or arrest on arrival."

Regarding his arrest on arrival for not providing adequate security for Benazir Bhutto in 2010 when he was the president, three Pakistan courts have given him a reprieve by granting him pre-arrest bail for 10 days.

He had earlier planned to arrive in Pakistan last year, but had to put off his homecoming after he was threatened with instant arrest by the Pakistan government.

After stepping down from the presidency, he fled the country in 2009 while facing impeachment.