The decision will be anxiously awaited as the candidacy of his brother Shahbaz Sharif was rejected yesterday citing pending criminal charges. Despite the party's decision to boycott the polls, Shahbaz has decided to challenge the decision in court saying the move was politically motivated.

Bhutto on Sunday said if the elections are boycotted it would strengthen Musharraf as parties backed by him would come into power.

"That's why we are saying we will take part in elections under protest, but we will also eave the door open" for boycott, the Pakistan People's party chief told reporters in Peshawar during her election campaign.

Bhutto claimed she was getting conflicting signals from Sharif and Islamist alliance MMA's leaders on the issue of boycott as they had filed their nomination papers.

Asserting that all "moderate forces and democratic forces should work together", Bhutto, however, kept the field open for a consensus with Sharif on the issue.

"I have signed the charter of democracy with Nawaz Sharif and we are committed to it," she said.