Lahore, Nov 27: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has welcomed Pakistan Muslim League (N) chief Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan after seven years in exile, and said it will strengthen the democratic and political culture in the country.

"We welcome Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan. It will strengthen the democratic and political culture," a foreign new agency quoted Benazir, as saying.

She also expressed her willingness to form an alliance with Sharif.

"We are ready to forge an alliance with all moderate political parties," the Daily Times quoted Benazir, as saying.

She said that an alliance of moderate parties was also being pushed by the United States.

"In the past, the United States would support dictatorships, but now, it is supporting democratic forces, which is a sign of encouragement for all democracy-loving people," she said.

The chairperson of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) filed her nomination papers for the January 8 general elections from her ancestral town of Old Larkana on Monday.

Bhutto, who flew home last month after eight years of self-imposed exile, is reportedly working on a joint strategy with Sharif against President Pervez Musharraf in the wake of emergency in the country.

The strategy may include the boycotting the elections, but a final decision on that is yet to be taken.

"We are concerned that elections will be rigged but we don't want to leave the field empty," she said.

Benazir has said that a democratic government would restore all the judges of the superior judiciary, who were deposed after proclamation of emergency in the country, Dawn News reported. (ANI)